This Is What You Need to Know Before You Speak to People

Nina Semczuk
Jul 30, 2017 · 2 min read

The instructor at a yoga class I recently attended said, “Swing your arms around,” more than a dozen times. And just as she requested, we freewheeled our arms above our heads and down by our sides. We swung our limbs up into Tadasana, wheeled into Warrior I, and swung them down by our sides and tilted forward in a Warrior 3 variation.

Instead of the slow and controlled movements the teacher requested after witnessing our flying limbs, we continued to swing all over the place because she used the same phrase, over and over.

Choose Your Words

It reminded me how carefully you have to choose your words especially if you’re in front of a crowd.

You have to put yourself in your audience’s shoes and assume not everyone will interpret your words the same way. It helps to say what you mean using alternative words and phrases.

The teacher could have tried: lift, raise, lower, float or a number of other commands to get the reaction she desired.

It helps to visualize what you want out of your crowd. And then assume you’re instructing someone who’s not a native English speaker.

Think Backwards

I never really appreciated how fortunate I am having parents who learned English as their second language. I spent my childhood saying (and thinking!) things a little backward and getting corrected at school, but now it’s a helpful way to think.

When I teach or speak in public, I change word order, verb choice, and get creative with my metaphors. You want to try to get your message understood by as many people as possible, so it doesn’t hurt to try a little word salsa. You never know what’ll click with who’s listening.

Nina Semczuk

Written by

SEO/writer/editor @Fairygodboss. Find my work around the web & at www.ninasemczuk.com. Hiker, outdoor yoga teacher @SummerOnHudson, and lifelong library lover.

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