Last week I was watching a video from author and personal development coach Mel Robbins and was struck by a very simple lesson.
The words we use make an impact on the people around us.
They also have the power to change outcomes, influence moods, alter perspectives—the list goes on.
In her video Robbins shares that she recently became aware of the number of times she says, “I’m sorry” in situations in which she doesn’t really need to apologize for her actions. She gives an example that most of us can relate to: You walk into a meeting 30 seconds late and instead of saying, “I’m sorry I’m running late” she suggests saying, “Thank you for your patience.”
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Robbins explains that when we say “I’m sorry” we are affirming that we are wrong. By leading with “Thank you…” we acknowledge the people around us—and change the trajectory of the interaction or discussion.
In this video, she also discusses the qualifying language that we often use in our everyday conversations—words such as “actually” and “I think.” Robbins says these words take away from the power and command of our language and we should make the effort to be more direct and assertive in our speech by leaving these “fluff” words out of the conversation.
These lessons on clean, concise language can be applied to marketing, too. Think about it: What do the words you use say about your brand?
At Shamrock, we’re in the marketing business—and we understand that it’s not only important what you say, but also how you say it. It’s our job to choose the words that perfectly paint a brand picture, define services, amplify benefits, etc. In many instances lately, I’m seeing the less-is-more approach is working. Maybe that’s because in today’s digital age, we all want a quick overview? A concise pitch? Brevity, combined with intentional language, are parameters we can all apply.
What do the words you use, say about you? And how about your brand writing: Does it paint the picture you want your customers to see?
Let’s continue the discussion on LinkedIn.
