How to Harness the “Power of the 10,000 Hours”: Strategies Four through Six

Editor's Note:  This is a guest post by Phyllis E. Thesier of The Articulate Advantage and a continuation of the post, Speaking to be Understood

Remember, you are working toward becoming extremely good at speaking English which is a primary requirement to being a top manager.  Let’s review the first three strategies.

I. Speak English EVERY DAY for 16 hours. In the car, on your way to work, rehearse…out loud… the names of each person in your office. Are you saying each correctly? Rehearse what you are going to say in your morning meetings.  Do you have your ideas organized? The appropriate vocabulary?  When you get to the office, write down what you wan to say and say it out loud. (If you do not have a private office, say it in a whisper….).  We must make our mouth move to the sounds in order to reprogram the speech sound movements.

II. Audiotape and Listen to yourself. Preferably while you are on the phone. This way, you get the best idea of how you sound to others.  (Note: Do not record the other person’s side of the conversation as it illegal in many areas of the USA). Record your “outgoing” telephone message every day.  Change the day and date on it.

III. SLOW Down! An average of 110 words per minute is best.  Sound interesting by speeding up an introduction phrase (to 140 WPM) …then pause for 1 second.. And, then list your points at 130 WPM, with a ½ second pause between each of them.  It will get others attention.

Now on to the next set of three effective communication strategies.
Western communication style has some pragmatic communication features that are very different from Eastern speaking styles.  Western communicators want an open, accessible communication style. This style is connoted by several types of body language.

IV. Eye Contact: The easiest way to accomplish this is to look at the other person’s Right eye.  One can maintain relaxed eye contact this way.  Especially when listening.  Your listener’s deeply appreciate this attention.  That said, it is not appropriate to maintain constant eye contact.  If you are speaking, you will periodically need to look away as you formulate an idea yet come back to the eye contact when you want to make a point.  It keeps your head up and relaxed.

Brian Tracy, a world renowned success coach, devotes four chapters to eye contact in his book “The Power of Charm: How to win anyone over in any situation.”   For those of you in China, Chaterhouse bookstore carries this book.  (When I was living in China, I bought my copy there).

V. Smile while speaking. A genuine smile draws people to you and your ideas.  Smile even if you don’t feel like smiling.  Physiologically, a smile accomplishes several critical voice and speaking needs.  A smile opens the airway allowing for effective replenishment of air while speaking.  We have often heard people speaking on residual air and sounding strained and too soft.  This loses the listeners attention. A smile also relaxes and opens the articulators for more effective targeting and pronunciation clarity.  When we speak with a more closed mouth, tension sets in and minimizes movements, making words sound mumbled.  Smile and be clear.

VI. Use open and accepting body language. Sit up or stand up straight.  It signals alertness and interest.  It also allows for adequate breathing. When we are short of breath we look tense and unaccepting.
Keep your hands and arms uncrossed. Again, crossing your arms restricts breathing. When one does this they seem to automatically put their chin down.  A physiological movement that also reduces airflow.  It is no wonder that folks who cross their arms and chin tuck look unhappy!

The best place to put our hands is in the modified preacher pose with the tips of the index fingers touching and the smallest three fingers crossed.  Another option is the hands gently cupped in a “hand-hold”.
Keeping the large muscles of index and thumb finger relaxed, relaxes the forearm and above to the shoulders and neck (where your airway is located).

We have discussed three effective communication pragmatics strategies used in North American Business English.  I chose these three as they are critical in maintaining optimum speaking muscle interactions. When our airflow is restricted, the twenty plus speaking muscles become compromised.  This in turn diminishes one’s ability to use new articulation patterns while speaking.  These pragmatics also keep folks happy with us as we are developing a new speaking style….

Remember:

• Maintain eye contact
• Smile
• Use open and accepting body language