Things to Think About 037

"Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy." Isaac Newton

What a wonderfully simple, concise way of describing one of the most important abilities of persuasive communication. One thing I’ve learned about this topic, after studying people for many years, is that it starts with empathy — not the soft skill you might be thinking of, but the soft power one gains when they take the time to consider the other person’s viewpoint and the impact certain different approaches will have on that person. I often hear, “Well, that’s just the way I am. I’m very direct. I don’t have time to ‘beat around the bush’.” What they are really saying is they don’t have time to be interpersonally competent, which is a very powerful skill to cultivate if one of your goals is to communicate effectively and persuasively.

Till next time…