Choosing our words wisely is more important than ever with social media dominating our communication, both professionally and personally. Especially if you’re at all in the public eye, the moment you say something your words could go viral.
Just ask Superbowl MVP, Jersey Joe Flacco, quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens.
When asked last week about next year’s Superbowl being played in the elements at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, Joe retorted that he thinks “…it’s retarded.”
Well, it didn’t take long for Joe’s words to zip around the globe and he took plenty of flack (no pun intended!) for them.
The simple answer, of course, is to think before you speak. Here are some tips for doing that from your friends at Dale Carnegie Training of Central & Southern New Jersey:
— Instead of blurting out the first words that come to mind, take a few moments to consider what you want to say. Your mind is pretty amazing at quickly organizing your thoughts—and your words—in a way that will better illustrate what you want to say.
— Similar to above, make it a point to pause before you speak and make sure you’re choosing the right word. There’s usually a better way to say it, and you’ll likely find it in a few seconds.
— Be aware of your surroundings. While some language is acceptable in close circles of friends and family, the same language will be deemed offensive in public. The key is to know the difference.
— If you say the wrong thing, apologize quickly and honestly for saying it. Own it with no excuses and people will likely give you a second chance.
This post is brought to you by the good folks at Dale Carnegie Training of Central & Southern New Jersey. We would love to connect with you on Facebookand Twitter @CarnegieJersey.
Photo credit: freedigitalphotos.net/Michal Marcol
Partial Source: The Sunday Star Ledger / Steve Adubato