communication
Word Choices That Really Matter
by Karen Cortell Reisman
You might say , “ It ’ s just a word !” And I ’ ll respond , “ I ’ m in the little-things-mean-a-lot business , and what you say to others AND yourself makes a difference .
Two words can mean the same thing . Yet one word choice brings out the worst and the other creates positive energy .
Words to avoid and why
Negative word : nervous vs . Positive word : excited
In a prior article about handling public speaking anxiety I share a study on changing your self-talk from “ I ’ m nervous ” to “ I ’ m excited ”. This study proves that this slight tweak will improve your speaking confidence . After all , your body does the same adrenaline dance for both “ nervous ” and “ excited ”; but your head game goes in a better direction using “ excited ”.
Negative word : fee vs . Positive word : investment
You are in sales ! You may be a dentist , or a CEO of a company , or a VP of operations … but you are always selling . Rather than talk about “ fees ” for your patients or clients , use the word “ investment ”. When you present your treatment plans to your patients say , “ Your health investment is xx .” My clients hear the following phrase : “ Your project investment is xx .” They never hear the word “ fee ”.
Other positive vs . negative word connotation examples Easygoing vs . Lazy Confident vs . Arrogant Value driven vs . Cheap Curious vs . Nosy Dedicated vs . Stubborn
Bonus negative / positive word choice
Holocaust survivor and Texan of the Year in 2019 , Max Glauben ( of blessed memory ), inspired this article . His recent obituary
shares that “ he helped co-found the Dallas Holocaust Museum , originally housed in the basement of the Jewish Community Center ( JCC ).”
I was on the Board of the Dallas Holocaust Museum for 16 years and I hated one of the words in the above paragraph . And everyone on the board knew it !
Don ’ t say “ basement ”, say “ lower level ”!
So , for the record , the Dallas Holocaust Museum , now a beautiful and meaningful stand-alone museum in Dallas ’ historic West End , originated on the lower level of the JCC .
Can you add to this word choice list ?
Think about your word choices and respective connotations . What words enhance or detract from your message ? Your word choice makes a difference to your listeners and you .
Karen Cortell Reisman is Founder of Speak For Yourself ® , a communication consulting firm , and the author of two books on how to communicate . She lives in Dallas , Texas and is value driven ( not cheap ).
Karen Cortell Reisman , communication expert , author , and coffee ice cream eater , works with dentists on their case presentations and dental lectures , speaks to dental associations from Yankee to Pankey , and coaches decision makers on how to ‘ Speak For Yourself ’ to make even more money . Karen is president of Speak For Yourself ® , she ’ s had a blast speaking in North America , China and Israel and , now , she has become a Certified Virtual Presenter . Currently , she travels all the way from her kitchen to her living room to give keynotes and do executive consulting .
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