Leaving home for a meeting a few weeks back, I found a golden apple in my driveway.

The fruitful discovery was sadly not fashioned out of solid gold. It was a discarded Christmas decoration which had been blown across the road.

A few days later I was reading an online inspirational in which the words 'apples of gold in settings of silver' leapt out.

They come from a 3000 year-old proverb, which reads: 'A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.'

The image is of an ornate basket made of silver filigree - the 'setting' - filled with golden fruit.

Beyond our actual words there are other factors - the skilled silversmithing - that account for the far greater part of the impact of what we say.

Here are six silver settings which, when well understood and mastered, contribute to our words being more aptly spoken: 

1  The mindset - Getting our own mindset right is the starting point. What motive do we have in mind for our communication and what attitude do we want to reflect?

2  Setting the wavelength - What kind of person or people are we dealing with here? For them to be receptive, how will we tune into their wavelength?

This could include, say, the bridge-building chat before getting down to the serious business.

3  Setting the voice - Adapting subtly our tone, melody and speed of voice to reflect the other person's style helps craft the 'silver setting.'

4  Setting the body - Body posture, facial expression and gesture are also major contributors to the way that receivers eat your golden apples - or not.

Try keeping arms unfolded to show open communication. In seated meetings, tend to lean more forwards than backwards to show you're staying engaged.

5  Time setting - Getting the timing right is crucial. For example, decide in the circumstances if it's best to praise or correct someone quickly, or wait until a later, more opportune moment.

6  Physical setting - Your location also matters. Give thought to whether what's to be said would work best informally in an open plan setting or behind closed doors.

Whether for a live event, or a digital communication like a webcast or youtube post, choose backdrops that reflect rather than detract from your message.