Speaking is one of the things we do to express ourselves. We are social beings who are eager to grab opportunities to be understood.
Craving for appreciation and acknowledgment is part of human nature; however, obsession with leading a conversation can negatively impact how others think of you.
This article will help you ruminate on things that can go wrong when you are competitive in talking and how nurturing your listening skills can help you communicate effectively.
Who Said The Quote Think Before You Speak?
The famous adage “think before you speak” holds significant intensity when someone shows signs of emotional outburst and can hurt another person with words in a few seconds.
It is a popular quote from Alexander Lebed that means taking great care of your words to ensure that they will not inflict harm to the receiving end.
One word can be a lethal weapon you have at your disposal, and the wrong thing can ruin your image.
What Is The Importance Of Thinking Before You Speak?
You Are What You Say
The words that your mouth utters mirror the heart that can’t be seen by others.
For example, a job interview is a gateway to knowing a candidate.
Employers don’t have a prior engagement with the candidates to see how they perform, but they can grasp a candidate’s personality when they listen to the way he speaks.
The same goes for us for the way we talk. Being a good conversationalist adds good brownie points to others’ impressions and our social self.
Your Words Can Be Painful
Statements have the ability to both heal and hurt those around us.
We are all jostling for a place in this fast-paced world that is moving at the speed of light. So we want to be known.
To meet that desire, we happen to speak carelessly without second thoughts, say kinds of stuff we don’t mean, and act more quickly than we should.
People may not remember all the words you said, but keep in mind that they remember the feeling that the words you utter made them feel.
So think carefully if you want to be a breath of fresh air type of memory or a scar type one.
Emotional Responses May Lead To Overreactions
Our feelings tend to become quite intense if we believe that someone has spoken or done anything to harm us. Our natural inclination is to burst into anger.
Before releasing your thoughts, think if it has a valid basis. Is your emotional response justified?
The more you control your reaction, the stronger your grip on your emotions.
Words Have Influence On Actions
Your words can eat the confidence of others and lead them into an abyss of bad actions.
Think of a teenager with pimples. Belittling him because of his acne can make him less confident with his face.
It can result in being over-conscious of people that look at his face and isolated from peers.
Words Are Not Reversible
When you put anything into words, it will stay until your life ends. No taking backs!
You can say sorry, but the fact you said hurtful words will never be erased.
Why Is It Hard To Think Before You Talk?
Reason #1: Lack Of Patience
It’s easy to see why some people lack patience.
Some of us have difficulty letting go of our need to participate actively in a conversation or debate.
When you’re impatient, you’re more likely to interrupt someone before they’re finished speaking, which might lead to you saying something wrong.
Reason #2: Impulsiveness
Another character flaw that may be contributing to your incapacity to listen is impulsiveness.
An impulsive person makes decisions on the spur of the moment, with little or no thinking about speech and actions.
When you’re impulsive, you’re more likely to talk before you’ve had a chance.
Reason #3 Insecurity
There is no need to stomp on others when someone is confident and believes in their self-worth.
Only those who lack self-confidence are capable of doing so.
How Can You Think Before You Speak?
You should be ready to think before speaking, express exactly what you mean, stand by your remarks, and take responsibility for them.
Discovering your internal stop button and using the THINK acronym are two helpful strategies that may be used to train your thinking, listening, and speaking skills
What Is The Secret Recipe To Monitor Your Words?
There are a lot of ways that can help you when you want to explode with negative words.
But not everything is easy to remember, especially when you are overwhelmed.
So here is the THINK acronym that can help you reflect before talking.
Step 1: T For Truth Behind The Words
Always double-check your facts before sharing them with others.
Avoid adding to the rumor mill by inventing anything or making something up simply for the sake of it.
If you’re honest, your remarks will have a greater effect immediately.
Step 2: H For Helpfulness Of Words
Everyone appreciates a valuable remark or two.
Therefore, if you have anything to say that could be useful to someone else, feel free to share it.
But if you have any reason to believe that what you are about to say would be harmful or ridiculing, then you should refrain from speaking and keep it to yourself.
Step 3: I For Inspirational Words
It’s always a good idea to say something encouraging, motivating, or inspirational to the people around you.
It might be anything as simple as praising another person’s shirt or as profound as motivating people to work harder to attain their objectives by sharing their own experiences.
Step 4: N For Necessary Words
Only speak out when it’s necessary, or at least make an effort not to.
When individuals are about to do something that they shouldn’t, we often have to give them a stern warning beforehand, or we may even have to explain an important topic.
Speaking when it is needed will help earn others’ respect.
Step 5: K For Kind Words
Everyone has freedom of speech, but that isn’t a reason to say something unpleasant.
We are emotional beings that occasionally demand reassurance. So make an effort to avoid rustic statements and avoid inflicting pain on them.
It is essential to communicate with everyone thoughtfully and kindly for the betterment of our lives.
