If You Will 11-1-03

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="042d05a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Big Ring Media Team, Inc.</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Big Ring Media Team, Inc."><B>home</B></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="043d2123.jpg"> <div> Click on this link to return to <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Word Watch by Subject">Word Watch by Subject</A>.</div> <div> Click on this link to go to <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Word Watch by Date">Word Watch by Date</A>.</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>If You Will 11-1-03</I></div> <div> This edition of Word Watch deals with verbal tics rather than writing. Verbal tics are the lazy, careless words that are repeated as we talk. Once it was, “you know.” Now it's “like,” especially among youth. The verbal tic afflicting business speakers these days is, “if you will.” We hear it on the phone, in one-on-one conversations, in seminars and panel discussions. It's like driving us nuts, you know - if you will.</div> <div> The actual words don't matter. The effect is the same. Verbal tics shift your listeners' focus to the tic, not the message. Anticipation and dread cause them to skip over everything else you're saying as they brace themselves for the next insertion of the tic.</div> <div> Verbal tics are easy to adopt, but tough to shed. Practice speaking in front of a friend or coworker who can point out your tics. Use a tape recorder or video recorder and review your performance.</div> <div> One reason we use verbal tics is to fill in the silence. Another is to reinforce a point. Learn to be comfortable with silence. As professional sales people know, silence is as effective as speaking in making a point.</div> <div> Clear the clutter from your speaking and you'll be a more effective speaker.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>