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Tip 108: Avoid "et cetera" and other substitutes for lazy thinking. |
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When you cite a list of things, objects, procedures, or activities, don't use a catchall phrase such as "et cetera," and then add on phrases such as "any way, shape, or form," "by any means whatsoever," "by any manner or means," ''other similar situations, or "other considerations too numerous to mention." Et cetera has a precise meaning: in the same manner. Correct use: "10, 20, 30, 40, et cetera." The et cetera means "continue numbering as in this pattern." It doesn't mean, "and-what-have-you stuff I don't want to take the time to say." Question yourself as to whether you're throwing in a phrase as a substitute for thinking long enough to be precise. |
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Tip 109: Rid yourself of junk words. |
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"Sort of," "a lot," "okay," "right," "type of," "more or less," "you know what I mean," and "you get the picture" add fat and sugar to the communication menu. They lead to a vocabulary deficiency in conversation. |
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Tasks go uncompleted, questions fail to get answered, and promises are broken often because people are not mind readers. Nonspecificity causes more customer-service problems than defective products ever could. |
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Other examples of mind-reading exercises: "I'd like you to do research into this problem and propose a solution by the end of the month." Does this boss want a lengthy questionnaire distributed to all employees? Want to hire a market research firm for an industry survey? Want to telephone a few key supervisors involved with the problem? |
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"You did a great job!" What was great? The analysis? The fact that I kept it under budget? The customer's reaction? |
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"Give me some feedback on the seminar." Bluntly? Diplomatically? Did it help me personally? Do I think others from the department should attend? Did I think it was worth the cost? How helpful or entertaining were the speakers? |
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Such requests and statements grope in the darkness of abstraction. Notice improvement in the following: |
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Nonspecific: When you talk so rudely to me, . . . |
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Specific: When you tell me I'm fat, . . . |
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Nonspecific: When you don't talk to me, . . . |
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Specific: When you don't talk to me about your work projects, . . . |
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