We often think about questions as collecting information, but they also have a big impact on how people perceive us. Research examined asking for advice in a variety of experiments and situations found that it actually had the exact opposite effect. Asking for advice made people look better, not worse. Being polite is easy, but if you took the time to listen to what someone said,. It showed you pay attention and you're interested in them. We need to make sure that that language is appropriate for our audience and serves a purpose for them and for us.
Words have impact. But when it comes to enchanting audiences and captivating with communication, Jonah Berger, PhD ’07, says some words are more potent than others.
Berger is a Wharton School professor and an internationally bestselling author. His most recent book, Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way, identifies language we can use to communicate more effectively in all sorts of personal and professional contexts. “Subtle shifts in language can have a huge impact on everything from convincing clients and holding attention to connecting with loved ones in our lives,” Berger says.
Magic words allow us to change minds, engage audiences, and drive action. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast, Berger and host Matt Abrahams discuss how we can leverage their power in our own communication.
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