ADVICE CAN BE FISHYWritten by Terry L. Sumerlin
Some years ago, while Jon was shining shoes in shop, a customer was giving him business advice. Since man is retired from a rather successful business, I was pleased that Jon listened. However, conversation reminded me of how easy it is to take too much advice.I heard of a man who opened a fish market but was having little success. A friend stopped in and asked how things were going. “Not well," entrepreneur replied. "Well, I can understand that," friend said. "You don't even have a sign advertising your business. How do you expect to get customers if they don't even know you're here? Get a sign.” This seemed like good advise. So merchant hung up a big sign: FRESH FISH SOLD HERE TODAY." After a while, business improved. Then someone walked in and said, "I've been wondering why you have TODAY on your sign. Obviously, it's today and not tomorrow." So, man decided that customer was right and painted over "today." Before long, someone else came in and said that word FRESH seemed unnecessary, since obviously he, being a man of integrity, wouldn't sell old fish. So, off came "fresh."
| | Ethics in Speaking: A Practical Point of ViewWritten by Stephen D. Boyd
Often managers have to deliver presentations with unpleasant content. The vice president has to announce that there is a hiring freeze or a downsizing. The human resource director speaks to employees about a benefits package with fewer benefits. Because executives are often speaking in difficult situations, more credibility they can develop, more content will be considered and accepted. Speakers will have little or no impact on audiences if audience members don’t respect them and what they have to say. What makes us trust a speaker or believe that he or she is a reliable source? Whom can we trust to have our best interests at heart? Let’s look at some practical ways a speaker can maintain and enhance credibility. Act in ways consistent with message of presentation. This can be as simple as showing concern in tone of voice and facial expression when talking about an issue that is facing company. Acting disinterested or unconcerned when presenting bad news can offend your listeners. Showing enthusiasm in delivery by quicker movements, more variety, and a faster rate of speech when reading an exciting climax of a positive presentation can produce same enthusiasm in your audience. A student began a persuasive speech by spreading garbage out on a table. She said, "What do all of these pieces of trash have in common? They can all be recycled." She gave a good speech on need for recycling and how to set up community recycling programs. She finished to a nice round of applause; then she gathered up all of recyclables from table--and threw them away in wastebasket in corner. She obviously didn't understand need for speakers to act in ways consistent with their messages in order to maintain credibility. Good preparation is an ethical requirement as well as a practical one. Your audience has given you time and an opportunity, and audience members deserve to hear your best effort. That only comes through careful preparation. If audience can tell you didn't prepare for them specifically, they will feel betrayed and won't respond positively to your message. Thus executive should start preparing several days or weeks before an important presentation is delivered. It is hard to cram for a speech, and audience can tell when preparation has not been adequate. Show respect for your audience. Don't insult your audience in any way. Racial slurs and profanity are obviously unethical, but in addition, don't show disrespect for people's gender, backgrounds, positions, appearances, or nationalities. Don't put people down because of their lack of knowledge of a topic; sometimes their lack of information is very reason you have been asked to speak. Don't embarrass any member of your audience. Don't play a joke on anyone without seeking permission first. Even if you do receive permission, playing a joke on an audience member can backfire because rest of your group might become fearful they will bear brunt of your next joke, causing them to lose trust in you. Poke fun at yourself instead.
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