Better Conversations Newsletter
"Raising the Standard of Conversation in Life"
Dr. Loren EkrothLoren Ekroth, Ph.D.
 
aka "Dr.Conversation" 
Today's Nifty Nugget
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Today's Nifty Nugget
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This Week's Issue:
March 13, 2011

Hello again, subscriber friend!

 

Many positive responses flooded in to request the nuggets.  Purposes of nuggets:  brief and pithy; easy to read;  useful in everyday life. 

Nugget:  n.

1. A small, solid lump, especially of gold.

2. A small compact portion or unit, as "nuggets of information

 
Here's nugget #1:  Use a Person's Name When Talking

Loren Ekroth, publisher 

loren@conversationmatters.com

Today's Nifty Nugget 

Words this issue: 210     Est. Reading Time: 1 minute  

 

From the time we are little, we are trained to respond to our name. It is so powerful that we instinctively turn around whenever we hear it called.   

 

Good reasons to use a person's name when conversing:

 

1.    If the person is new to you, using their name helps you to remember it. "Hi, Joe!  I'm Loren."  Then intermittently use their name in the conversation and when departing.

2.    In group conversation, using the name clearly identifies to whom you are talking  or referring.  As well, using names adds a personal feeling.

     3.    Use a person's first name or, when

     appropriate, their professional title and name

     (e.g., "Dr. Elmgrove.")  Doing so helps creates

     a feeling of rapport.

4.    When talking on the phone to a customer service person, using their name will often get you better service.  Radio talk-show hosts keep a pad handy and write down the name of each caller.  You do the same, or you'll probably forget it.)   

 

My guesstimate is that roughly 70% of adult conversers rarely use the names of others even though doing this takes little effort and has big pay-offs.   Try it; you'll like it.

 

Loren Ekroth ©2011, all rights reserved


Loren Ekroth, Ph.D. is a specialist in human communication and a national expert on conversation for business and social life. 


Contact at Loren@conversationmatters.com