Talking

All things being equal, it remains our best way of communicating. It is direct. It combines tone, nuance, emotion, expression, and sound. It, of course, is talking. Two people talk and walk away from that encounter with a good idea and understanding of what was said. While this may not always be the case, the fact is the odds are much greater than when talking occurs, meaningful understanding follows. A big reason for this is that talking often includes efforts to explain and provide description. Those who talk do so with the purpose of being understood and even validated. They are looking to make a difference.


Talking, more than other forms of communication, is the one that is most personal. We talk and it is us live and in-person. Talkers see right away what kind of impact, if any, they are having.  Writers do not have that luxury as often what they put down on paper is read, if at all, by others outside their presence. They are not able to experience how their words and thoughts are received. Talkers can and do. When people talk, they risk criticism, disrespect, disagreement, and disapproval. Singularly or collectively, all of these are downers. On the flip side, there is also the chance of receiving affirmation, validation, and approval. What is better than any one or all of those?


Our esteem is on the line when we talk. Because of that, it is no wonder that some have difficulty expressing themselves orally as well as they would like. This is probably the main reason so many people fear speaking in a public setting. None of us wish to look less than we are. Yet the opportunity to elevate our standing before others and actually make a difference in the lives of folks beyond ourselves is an intoxicating temptation. Talking is not to be taken lightly even though we all do it every day, often times with little or no preparation or thought. In the world of communication, talking remains the great game-changer.