5 Ways to Make Your Point Faster and Better

5 Ways to Make Your Point Faster and Better5 Ways to Make Your Point Faster and BetterYour story is better than your resume. Use these five points to make your point faster and tell your story better.Looking for a job is nothing but making a pointA point about your value.A point about your accomplishments.A point about your contribution to an organization.Whether youre networking, interviewing or chatting on the phone, consider these five tactics to make your point faster and better1. Articulate ideas in plain language.The less jargon you use, the mora engaging you become. In the writing world, shorter sentences get read. In the speaking world, shorter sentences get heard. Think like a writer. Watch those long and cumbersome sentences. Dont construct your ideas in a way that overburdens peoples brains. Dont spew one idea after another. Otherwise listeners will still be stuck on the first idea, trying to figure out what the heck you meant. Keep your message lean, lows include The secr et is Heres the deal Let me ask ya this Heres the best part Think of it this way Yes, and heres why Heres my suggestion And heres the difference The question I always ask myself is I have one observation and one question - are you ready?The secret to using vocal hangers is to pause ever so slightly before you deliver the goods. This heightens the level of anticipation and energy into the conversation. Whats more, the more you use them, the more youll internalize them. The more you internalize them, the more natural they will sound. The more natural they sound, the more they will become part of your lexicon. The more they become part of your lexicon the more people will begin to expect them. And the more people begin to expect them, the more they will pay attention when they hear them. How do you elicit rapt interest?4. Reflect their reality.In my mentoring program, note taking is essential for point making. My favorite move is to select something in particular from my notes, turn t he piece of paper around, then ask the mentee to read the passage to me. More often than not, people are shocked when they hear themselves speak. This feedback process (which I learned at the Presidents Council) offers a verbal mirror. It reflects the other persons reality and helps people landsee themselves as others see them. Whats more, theres no greater way to make a point than to mirror peoples own words. How are you using note taking for point making?5. Stories trump resumes.Bikram Yoga is my religion. Naturally, friends of mine who are considering taking a class often ask me what its like. Its tough, I used to say. Ninety minutes. 110 heat. 100 percent humidity. The absolute hardest workout youll ever experience in your life. But it will change you forever. Unfortunately, that didnt make the point very well. Hell, you could learn that on the studio Web site. Facts are the refuge of the unimaginative. Instead, I tell people the story about Rhonda. Shes a friend of mine who cam e to class with me. Afterwards, when I asked her how she felt, her exact words were, I think I saw God. She now practices four days a week. Lesson learned Facts are retained stories are retold. Which one are you using to prove your point?Remember Making a point isnt just a skill its an art.