What Kind of Message Are You Sending?

I recall an advertisement for a popular learning course that began, “People judge you by the words you use.” That is a true statement. However, whether you like it or not, they judge you in other ways too. Everything you do sends a message.

Dale Carnegie was born on a farm in Maryville, MO in 1888. He went on to write several books including one of my favorites, How To Win Friends and Influence People. Carnegie stated the following on how we are perceived.

“There are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts: what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it.” ~ Dale Carnegie

His observation in the early twentieth century focused on how we are perceived personally. In today’s world, the same rules apply. We can additionally send a powerful message in social media, our website, what we write and pictures and videos we share online.

Let’s take a look at each of these four contacts individually and a few ways you can put them into action.

• What we do:
  • Be consistent in your actions. Make your word your bond.
  • Use proper etiquette.
  • Be respectful to others and listen more than you talk.
• How we look: 
  • Body language can say more than the words you use in many cases.
  • How you dress and how well you present yourself physically speaks volumes about the respect you have for yourself and for the other person.
  • How does your website look? Does it represent you in the way you would like to be perceived.
  • Does your words, pictures and videos that you post on social media send the proper message? Would you mind if a customer or potential employer saw your postings?
  • Smile
• What we say:
  • Use good manners and say thank you and please.
  • Be appreciative and gracious.
  • Ask good questions and be interested in them.
• How we say it:
  • Speak politely to everyone. Not just the people you perceive as important. You never know who’s listening.
  • Be sincere. People can tell if you are being genuine.

Understanding clearly the message we want to send and getting busy conveying that message will increase your success in all areas of your life.

Have a great week!