It Matters How You Say It

"Remember the meeting time."

"Don't forget the meeting time."

Do both of those say the same thing? Not as far as your brain is concerned.

Why?

The brain doesn't register the negative. So if you use the negative sentence “Don’t forget the meeting time,” your brain is ignoring the “don’t” and hearing the statement “forget the meeting time.”

If you use the positive sentence, “Remember the meeting time,” you’ll have a much better chance of seeing your participants show up on schedule.

The mind wants direction, not a sense of "lack." That's why it's important to pay attention to how you say things. If I tell you that something is "not very expensive" you'll focus on "expensive."

Try these:

• "New" vs. "Untried"
• "By 5 O'clock" vs. "By the end of the day"
• "Economical" vs. "Inexpensive"

Note: This is how improvement efforts often get bogged down at the outset.

"I want us to make fewer mistakes" translates differently than, "I want to increase the accuracy of our customer service solutions by 30% before November 30."

photo attribution: www.alfa60.com/lina/

Comments

[Jackie Cameron]

Hi Steve
"Don't look at the guy over there..." what happens. Your head turns to do just that!

Your post is a timely reminder that the language we use matters a great deal.
When I am training in speaking skills we have a board for banned words - like quite - "I am quite good.." or nice ( doesn't need explaining surely) or might - "I might be able to.." The participants on the day decide on others.

I also found myself using a double negative - "not unsophisticated". When it was pointed out I realised the impact.

So in presentations - or any other kind of communications - use the word you mean and keep it clear and simple.

[Steve Roesler]

Hi, Jackie,

I've always thought that the use of too many superlative adjectives in presentations made the speaker suspect; not unlike:-) a TV advert.

It's always struck me that the closer one can stay to noun-verb-object, the more credible the speaker. And the talks are blessedly shorter as well.