Limitless Monday: Cut To The Chase

Limitless Monday – Cut to the chase

 

It was once said, “No one likes a know it all”. However the world seems to be inhabited mainly by know it alls, people who are not interested in listening to the advice and wisdom of any one but themselves. Was it always like this?

 

 

It’s rare to come across anyone who is open to guidance from others. When it comes to general life advice, no one wants to listen. If we know what’s good for us we listen to our boss, only because we are paid to do so. Students generally listen to teachers on subject related matters, sometimes we even listen to our lawyer. We would be foolish not to listen to our martial arts instructor! But if any of these individuals were to offer general life advice, it’s generally ignored. We all think we know better.

 

 

Let’s say you are a high flying city professional forced to move to a small town called Hicksville. You probably believe that the town folk who frequent the local bar are all a little backward with nothing valuable to offer in terms of wisdom and meaning of life. And you may be right in the majority of cases.

 

 

However we fail to remember one important fact. Everyone has a story to tell, even a bathroom cleaner. Unfortunately you may have to listen to a bunch of drivel before getting to the juicy stuff. That’s the problem. Most of us don’t have the time or patience to listen to anyone for more than five minutes. We start to tap our feet, look out the window, or check to see if there have been any new rabbit pictures posted to our Instagram feed.

 

 

And it’s understandable. We have become verbose. We can’t explain ourselves in words of one syllable, torturing our listeners with verbal diarrhea. People find it rude if we try to cut them short and tell them to, “Get to the point!”

 

 

It has to be said, sometimes I suffer from a little verbal diarrhea, at least my children tell me this. Generally, however, I try to get to the point quickly, or my audience tends to lose interest in what I have to say.

 

 

There are two lessons from today’s short article.

 

 

First, if you want to be listened to, cut out the BS and get to the point quicker.

 

 

Two, try to listen to others a little more; remember we all have a story. Saying that, be bold and politely ask the storyteller to get to the point a little quicker than usual. If they can’t get to the crux of the conversation within a short space of, time they are probably not someone you want to indulge on a regular basis. Cut them from your group of friends, colleagues. Spend time with people who add value, not those who waffle about nothing much in particular, unless the offender is your parents or close relative, of course.

 

 

If this article offends the verbose amongst you, too bad. It’s time to cut to the chase and become more direct and effective with your communication. It’s for your own good.

 

 

Be ruthless. Your time is precious. Be open minded about learning from others, but be willing to encourage them to get to the point a little quicker than they are used to.

 

 

Happy Monday!

 

Banner Image: Target. Image Credit – Silvan Arnet