Talk so that people will listen

We've all been there. We finally get up the courage to speak and we are confident that what we are about to say is of value. Then we open our mouth and what comes out is a jumbled mess of facts, logic, and emotion, in no particular order. Worse still, the jumbled mess is punctuated by a dry mouth, we feel tongue tied (and therefore cannot enunciate words properly), and we run out of breath at the worst moment possible, meaning that key points are not punctuated by well timed pauses. Yes, we've all been there, and been there many times.

Julian Treasure is a vocal therapist, and in this short but useful TED Talk, he provides the exercises that we should all do before a meeting to loosen up our mouths (and minds) so that the way we convey our message is congruent with the intent of the message. 

But remember that it's not just what we say but it's also the way you say it. Julian has developed the HAIL model as a way of positioning each message so that they give the recipient pause to listen to you in the right way. Below is my reflection on the HAIL model:

• Honesty: Make sure the intent behind what you are saying is clear (e.g. I am concerned about x and therefore I'd like to discuss). People can always pick-up ulterior motives and you would've come out of meetings where in the back of your mind, what someone has asked for is not what they are really after.
• Authentic: Use words and phrases that reflect you. Don't try to use big words to impress someone (e.g. cognitive dissonance caused by a misalignment with the dichotomy of frameworks). Firstly you might not use the big words correctly and secondly, you just come across as a arrogant jerk.
• Integrity: This one is simple (although I think the word is over used in the modern world) - but essentially, do what you say you'd do. 
• Love (or enthusiasm): Be passionate about what you're saying. Too often, we temper our passion for certain topic or subject because that's what we think is required of us. We think that a monotone and a composed manner convey self control. But while self control is important, we often go too far, and we fail to convey our enthusiasm. Ultimately, if you're perceived to be enthusiastic about what you're trying to say, then the listener would wonder why they're listening to you at all.