Words, words, words
We use them every day, some people more than others, some more eloquently than others. Words define who we are in more ways than one. Our vocabularies should be as wide and varied as possible, as the way we say things can often make a big difference to how we’re perceived.
The way we communicate and the messages we send out make up a big proportion of our working day – especially if you are employed in an office environment that involves all forms of communication, both verbal and written. When it comes to things like CVs, for example, it’s important to stand out from the pack. Don’t use the same outdated vocabulary everyone else does. Be imaginative, but not misleading. Don’t be a ‘team player’, be good at ‘collaborative working’. Try to use turns of phrase and word syntax that will make you stand out from the crowd. Power up your CV with strong action verbs, such as accomplished, supplemented, transformed and mentored.
Don’t simply regurgitate phraseology you’ve read elsewhere. Give it some serious thought, ask for advice and create something that is unique to you. Ask your friends and colleagues for suggestions on how they see you and if there are areas, if any, where you could be improved.
It’s also useful to think about how you want to say things. Word choice is often about effect rather than complexity. The overuse of jargon or complicated, multi-syllable expressions won’t help in either written or verbal communication and will often just lead to bafflement. Don’t go over the top, but be imaginative and try to keep it in Plain English. There’s no point in sounding like you’ve swallowed a dictionary. Showing off with your vocabulary is fine for Radio 4 panel games or the House of Commons, but you’ll end up misunderstood in real-world situations if you attempt such verbal or written gymnastics. Never use words you don’t know the meaning of, as there’s always someone, somewhere who will ask for a definition at some point, and trip you up.
We live in a world where spoken and particularly written words are a vital part of our everyday lives. Having a rich and varied vocabulary makes us more interesting to listen to and our work and communications more interesting to read.
At Career Evolution, we have a team of highly qualified and experienced Consultants and business Coaches that can work with you to turn problems into challenges, and challenges into opportunities. If you would like to find out more visit www.career-evolution.org, email suethomas@career-evolution.org or joclancy@careerevolution.org.
