Comments on: Communicating to Action http://jasonseiden.com/communicating-to-action/ LIve a better story. (Or at least tell your current one better.) Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:50:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Michelle http://jasonseiden.com/communicating-to-action/comment-page-1/#comment-2613 Michelle Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:04:29 +0000 http://jasonseiden.com/?p=1207#comment-2613 Indeed, the words "probably," "likely," "should," and "try" tend to water down someone's commitment and breed uncertainty, especially when it comes to actions and timeframes. "I should be able to deliver." "I will try to call you Monday." Adding qualifiers also spreads the message thin: "At this time, the deadline seems reasonable." Meaning, perspectives and commitments could change in the future, and "seems" is less firm than simply stating, "the deadline is reasonable." I vote for speaking plainly. This was a valuable post. I would like to hear other people's examples and solutions. Indeed, the words “probably,” “likely,” “should,” and “try” tend to water down someone’s commitment and breed uncertainty, especially when it comes to actions and timeframes.

“I should be able to deliver.”
“I will try to call you Monday.”

Adding qualifiers also spreads the message thin: “At this time, the deadline seems reasonable.” Meaning, perspectives and commitments could change in the future, and “seems” is less firm than simply stating, “the deadline is reasonable.”

I vote for speaking plainly. This was a valuable post. I would like to hear other people’s examples and solutions.

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