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Some inspiring speeches work better than others. As the saying goes,
The message sent is not always the message received.
January 6, 2017
Inspiring Speeches
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Thanks for the laugh. “Never try to inspire a banker”. That verges on cruel. Has there ever been a bleaker pronouncement on a whole group of people? Of course, I wish I were a banker. Not only would I be rich I’d be able to prove your little cartoon friend wrong (exception to the rule and all that).
I don’t know about you, first thing when I hear “inspiring speech” popping into my mind is Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream”. Leaving content aside, a speech’s power is in the delivery, igniting passion in the audience. Be it a Hitler, be it a JFK, …, take your pick. Combined with our good old friend “charisma”. Think we mentioned him on these pages before.
U
PS Forgot to reply to your “the message sent is not always the message received”. That is so true, so true, so true, Jean. It’s the bane of many communication breakdowns. In fact, without wishing to exaggerate, its consequences can range from comical via sad to tragic.
U
Your talk of charisma reminded me of an article I read a while ago and Angela Merkel and the Germans. She’s trusted (was trusted?) partially because she didn’t have charisma but was stable. There’s something to be said for that. A lot of people wish Trump had less charisma.
I agree that a lot of both comedies and tragedies are based on miscommunication.
It is also, what is said is not as important as how it is said.
Amen to that!
I laughed. And then I started ruminating about Lewis’ The Undoing Project. He has lots to say there about messages sent and received, and how our understanding of all that has changed in the past decades. Thanks for adding humor to my reading!
I just finished listening to the Undoing Project. Nice coincidence. 🙂
love the cartoon…it started so blah, but it ended up quite different…& it cut to the chase real quick!
a friend of mine on f/b has posted a picture of his “new look” having been away on a camping holiday – he has started a bit of lower facial fluff. So many so called friends in reply to his question “keep or off” have said OFF!!!
I have basically said “if it makes you happier, keep it” – my friend had a very tough year 2016 business and teenager…
I’m with you. That’s the way to decide!
Reminded me of the time a friend’s family had been attending communication classes. When I asked if she knew where her husband was she said, “Yes.” Then I asked if she would be willing to tell me where he was and she said, “Yes.” It took me awhile before I realized what I needed to ask was, “Where is he?” Then she apologized for practicing her listening to what was said on me but I never forgot that lesson in clear communication. I still don’t always ask clearly for what I want, though.
Sometimes people (like your friend) do know what the other person is asking and it’s best to not be too literal. The trick is to be open to guessing wrong, just in case.
In the case of you and your friend I think it was polite of you to ask if she minded telling you. She could have had a reason not to and your asking would have put her on the spot. It would have been nicer if she had met you halfway, but I can understand why she was practicing what she had learned.
I always like a good laugh! Great way to start a weekend! Miscommunication is the cause of all sorts of tragic outcomes.
Amen to that!
This happens to me so often.
People don’t wait for me to even finish speaking before they pass judgement on what I’m trying to convey.
OR worse, they are trying to read between the lines.
I find it maddening.
All of this is work related of course.
If fact I was just trying to explain a current situation and I was told
“I’ll pat you on the back, if no one else will”
I was so mentally exhausted that I just blurted out –
“I don’t want any pats on the back! I just don’t want anyone stabbing me in it either!”
(No wonder I prefer the company of animals. We can communicate without all the stupid words and they completely understand.)
🙂
xoxo
I have a friend who used to interrupt me and say, “No!” Then he would proceed to say exactly what I was about to say. I had to call him on that for a while before he stopped. It pays to be cheerfully firm.