You’ve got to speak their language
At a recent seminar that I was teaching on how to get people to do what you want them to do, I taught the audience a key concept. And that is, if you want to gain the full and willing cooperation of others, you have to speak their language.
In a work setting, for example, there are 5 work languages, and every employee and every leader has a preferred language … which could be Respect, Belonging, Communication, Fun, or Service. Of course, they’re all good languages; it’s simply a matter of fact that some people will work harder for Respect while others respond more to a FUN work environment.
To be a great communicator, take the time to carefully observe your coworkers to determine which of those 5 languages each person would prefer, and speak more of that to him or her. You’ll love the results you get. In fact, you might want to consider having me speak at your next meeting and teach these skills in great detail with my program on “The Partnership Payoff: 7 Skills For Better Relationships and Greater Teamwork.”
And just in case you’re wondering what language your kids speak and how you can communicate more effectively with them, I’ve got one more tip for you. Kids spell L-O-V-E as T-I-M-E. That’s why you see my wife Chris spending time with our grandson Noah, learning how warriors defend themselves.