When you speak, do you just want to be heard, or do you actually want to influence others? Communication is a basic component of our everyday lives. However, some people simply communicate better than others. This goes beyond just grammar and knowledge; it’s something deeper.
Learning to communicate effectively can impact every aspect of life, including social status. One basic human instinct is to strive for inclusion and acceptance. We also have a natural desire to increase our social status, thus being a influential members of our companies, industries, and society as a whole.
Language and communication are more complicated than meets the eye. When we speak or otherwise relay a message, people’s brains are left to process that information. We can somewhat influence how that information is perceived based on how we present it.
Communicating Your “Why”
Great leaders have a unique way of thinking, acting and communicating. Simon Sinek calls this the “Golden Circle.” Most everyone knows what they do and how they do it, but influential leaders instead focus on something else: Why they do what they do. From Apple to the Wright Brothers, the most inspirational leaders start with the “why.” The “what” and “how” of their message and actions are secondary to their motivation.
For example, did you notice my introduction? I didn’t simply state a summary of my main points like someone would do for a news article or college paper. I told you why you should care about this aspect of communication. That’s the difference. It’s not about the straight facts. It’s about presenting those facts in a way that resonates with your audience.
The average person will care more about numbers and statistics if they’re first inspired by something related to those facts. Whether we like it or not, sometimes our gut feeling overpowers rational thought. If we’re choosing between two very similar products at similar prices, the differentiating factor will be something we can’t explain. It’s the “why.” We’re drawn to people and companies who value the same things we do. Because of the way our brain’s limbic system is wired, our feelings of trust and loyalty drive behavior more than facts and figures do.
Using Communication to Advance Your Career
A company’s employees don’t stay for the paycheck. They stay because it feels right; there is a sense of community. Similarly, there’s a reason for in-person interviews during the hiring process. Sometimes even the best candidate on paper can be overlooked if another candidate makes a better case for why they believe they’re best for the company or organization.
The way we speak and present ourselves can impact our careers when interviewing, trying to get clients, seeking information, applying for promotion, etc. This is why communication has such a powerful effect on every aspect of our lives.
Beyond Business
Communication is vital for business, but it’s also an intrinsic part of our world as a whole.
One of the most influential leaders in history was Martin Luther King, Jr. He wasn’t the only civil rights activist of his time, but he became the most well-known because of how he inspired others. He didn’t just talk about his concrete plan for creating sustainable racial equality. He told people what he believed — what he dreamed of. His audience was comprised of people who held similar beliefs, regardless of skin color or heritage. They used his influence to make his mission their own.
Effective communication leads to higher social status, which can change lives around the world. A case in Bangledesh indicated that a woman rising in social status can bring down rates of domestic violence. Increased status wasn’t achieved by simply giving resources to the women. It was done through communication. Women who developed social ties and confidence increased their status in society, leading to a significant decline in spousal abuse.
When trying to be an influential, inspired leader in our own lives, we can look to other leaders and adopt their best practices. We can learn to communicate our message in a way that makes people stop and genuinely listen. You never know what your influence may inspire.