Going one-on-one is more than enough!
Did you ever stop to think about how complex a human dialog is? Let me share an experience I had a long time ago:
Back in the days when I got certified as a trainer based on the sales models from Huthwaite, I remember doing my first sales calls with that perspective in mind. One of the things that really struck me is how extremely fast paced a conversation is. All the things that take place during a simple dialog is truly amazing. It was at a much later stage, as I together with a few other professionals became more aware of the subconscious world, that I was completely blown away. In light of just pure conversation, I'm in awe when it comes to the information flow that takes place in the form of vibes and unspoken words - and that in addition to the conversation itself.
Well, during my Huthwaite sales coaching, I was happy to see that sales calls were recorded, allowing us to further scrutinize each word that was spoken. It would sometimes take several rounds of listening before I was able to pick up the real meaning behind what was being said. It was as if several layers of dialog came out in the open - bit by bit.
So one-on-one is the way to go. I love speaking in front of a big crowd of people. However, a good tip to anyone who wants to practice effective influence must be to "maintain the principle of one-on-one". One head (read: brain) alone is complex. If we make it two, which we normally refer to as a one-on-one conversation, then complexity sky rockets. Imagine what happens when you add a third person. Take my advice: If you can keep it one-on-one, do what you can to keep it that way!

Comments
I totally agree!
Tina Minor
Wednesday 02 January 2008 1:49:04 pm
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