Whenever you’re seeking to make an important point, the words you choose play a crucial part in determining your success or failure.

 

A one-time Australian politician once memorably underlined this point.

 

I don’t often quote the wisdom of elected representatives from Down Under. Some might say there’s not a lot to choose from.

 

But while I worked as a political correspondent in Canberra, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bill Hayden, astutely observed that in the world of diplomacy, words are like bullets.

If we accept the truth of this, then it’s important never to leave the choosing of your words in a big moment to chance – even if you don’t happen to be a foreign minister.

 

Saying whatever happens to pop into your pretty little head at a time when you’re under pressure is not a great policy.

 

Rather you should plan for it, prepare for it and practice for it.

 

This is what I work on with clients when they’re preparing to make their point on an important occasion – whether it’s in a media interview, a cross examination in a courtroom or industrial tribunal, a pitch for a contract or a presentation.

 

NUMBERS MAN GETS THE WORDS WRONG

 

One person who could learn from the wise words of Bill Hayden is the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond.

 

In a loose-tongued moment while on a visit to Washington last week, Mr Hammond uttered something he quickly came to regret.

 

In an interview with Sky News about the prolonged negotiations over Britain’s exit from the European Union, Mr Hammond described the EU negotiators as “the enemy”.

 

When you’re trying to strike a deal with your past, present and (hopefully) future trade and political “partners”, then describing them as “the enemy” is a bad idea.

To his credit, Mr Hammond was quick to express his regret and admit that he had made a poor choice of words.

 

And one has to realise that Mr Hammond had been under a lot of political pressure.

 

His gloomy predictions for how Brexit could work out have seen him likened by people on his own side in politics to the pessimistic character, Eyeore the Donkey, from the Winnie-the-Pooh books.

 

 

And one of Mr Hammond’s Conservative predecessors as Chancellor of the Exchequer had called for him to be sacked for being what he claimed was close to sabotage of the Brexit project.

 

The opposition described Mr Hammond as being like the disaster-prone Basil Fawlty on a holiday.

 

 

But it’s when you’re under pressure that you need to be particularly careful about your choice of words.

 

This is why I spend time with clients to help them select the right words and delivery style for the big occasion.

 

When we work on the words they need – and polish them to make sure they exactly reflect what they’re seeking to convey – then they have every chance of avoiding the kind of slip-up which Philip Hammond made.

 

There are always banana skins out there – and journalists will sometimes see it as part of their job to throw some in front of you.

 

 

But if you plan, prepare and practice for the moments in the spotlight then it’s so much easier to avoid slipping on them.

 

WHAT is said is ultimately determined by HOW it is said – and if you plan, prepare and practice what you’re saying in advance, and take the opportunity to have yourself critiqued on video and see and hear yourself back – then you can avoid surprising both yourself and others by what comes out of your mouth!

 

You can check out Philip Hammond’s ability to put his own banana skin under his own feet here:

HOW NOT TO DEAL WITH ALLEGATIONS

Meanwhile, whatever the political sins of Philip Hammond, they pale into insignificance compared with Hollywood movie director Harvey Weinstein who is being accused of an ever-growing number of allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault.

 

There hardly seems to be a leading lady on either side of the Atlantic who isn’t claiming to be his victim – and various men have complained about worrying aspects of his behavior as well.

 

 

So once he’s drastically reformed at his rehabilitation clinic then he can start working on his communication etiquette.

 
If you’re accused of anything (which hopefully you won’t be), then replying with your fingers as Harvey Weinstein did outside his lawyer’s office – as captured by Evening Standard – is hardly showing the greatest of respect to your accusers.
 

Words have power, and so too does body language – for better and for worse.