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Linguistical Pitfalls Part Two
Well. . .it seems like some of my readers have been paying careful attention. I like that. A while back I wrote an article about the eight most common avoidable pitfalls in language--but, if, try and might. Hey, that's not eight! What are the other four? Several people commented on my blog that I was utilizing the open loop method of persuasion by saying there were eight, and only revealing four. Was this intentional? Maybe.
Well. . .it seems like some of my readers have been paying careful attention. I like that. A while back I wrote an article about the eight most common avoidable pitfalls in language—but, if, try and might. Hey, that’s not eight! What are the other four? Several people commented on my blog that I was utilizing the open loop method of persuasion by saying there were eight, and only revealing four. Was this intentional? Maybe.
The open loop, whether intentional or not, seemed to have worked as my assistant was e-mailed and even received one phone call wanting to know the other four.
So if you’ve been glued to your computer waiting for part two, I appreciate your anticipation.
The first three of the final four: would have, could have, should have (woulda, coulda, shoulda).
The problem with these phrases is that they’re all in past tense. While this doesn’t seem on the surface to be problematic, they can have a seriously negative impact on your persuasion message.
Generally, you want to be leading people into the present time so they can and will act right now. We don’t want their heads in the past, we want them with us. To borrow a phrase from Ram Dass, we need them to “be here now.” The present is where we’re selling, the present is where they’re buying.
In addition to their nostalgic taint, these words create a whining atmosphere and reek of regret. Whaa! ‘I should have done that. If I had been in a better mindset, I would have taken advantage of the situation. If I would have known. . .things would be so much better.’
Last but not least. . .
Can’t. I can’t. Can’t is a negation and negations have the potential to pose a serious threat to your persuasive abilities in essence canceling out all that you have worked to achieve. When I was in high school there was one teacher who forbid us from using the word ‘can’t’. He wasn’t having it.
Take for example the sentence: “You can’t use negations”. This, in essence, forces your mind to first picture yourself using negations which then negates your ability to use them.
When you tell yourself you can’t sleep, what happens? You can’t sleep.
When you use a negation, it forces the mind to think about exactly what you do not want it to think about. Having your prospects creating a mental imagine of what you want them to do is the goal here—not having them negate the imagines.
Words like “can’t” create the very image you don’t want the person to make.
There are some very powerful and creative ways to use negation—just be careful that you use it properly or not at all until you’re comfortable with it.
Now you can sleep well at night having received part two of linguistical pitfalls.