Freedom of Speech!

I had a conversation with my friend on some topic & the thoughts didn't match; she ended up making some personal attack: and got the reply accordingly.

Freedom of speech allows you to say anything and everything

We all would agree that communication has an important place in sales and marketing. So the freedom of speech. Otherwise how the companies would have made claims about their products & services of being better or providing something beneficial to humans physically/ mentally or emotionally

Sometimes; one proceeds to oversimplify or mischaracterize the words you said by just adding 'so you are saying'. I call them “conversation bully”. You can easily relate the same with 'Assuming the Sale' phenomena in business: like a car sales man says; 'would you like it with leather interior or with fabric' etc. here; the salesman actually leads you to choose between the two. The funny thing is you haven't bought the car yet

I know it has happened to you. Here you need to identify the hidden presupposition and then call it out. You can ask for substantial evidence to support the statement

Tip; have a relaxed posture: it gives you more scope to tackle the situation and give yourself a pause; get some time to think. Many a times; 'smash technique' also works great. But you have to know how to use that effectively. Because sometimes it backfires

To tackle smash technique; don't try to change the bully's mind but lead it to the direction you want to

Tip: Do not ‘straw man’ the other person's ideas; if even they are doing to you.

FYI straw manning is to create a caricature of the ideas and attack those rather than what they truly believe. Show the person that you are truly engaging in their real points to understand it.

Tip: try to create visual imagery

Example; when one argues about saving the environment at the cost of growth; choose a stance and explain that. Like just see there is a child walking around on streets; around 3-4 years old, in trousers & strapped t- shirt & he has an oxygen mask around his face. There are no trees to filter the air. He cannot breathe without that oxygen mask. Here you have touched the person emotionally; not it’s time to crush them with some hard facts like the sea level rise etc. so adding some imaginary visuals & then giving some concrete facts is an smart move.

Tip: don’t try to change the arguer’s mind. Just lead them that they are already in agreement with you.

Freedom of speech gives you the opportunity to communicate your mind but as Sardar in ‘Rocket Singh: Salesman of the year‘ said, ‘Risk to Spiderman ko bhee lena padta hai’. Here the risk is of ‘Being Offensive’

Note: people try to be firm about what they have already said & done. If they don’t know the way one should put the point through; they end up offending the others.

You don’t have to say Goccha; without saying that the other person will feel silly about themselves.

These are some of my thoughts; please share yours.

And remember; we are doing this because, numbers matter. And in closing the deal, freedom of speech is damn important.