In this episode of People Play Story, we delve into the art of quick-witted communication. We explore the concept of quick-wittedness, not as a tool for verbal domination, but as a strategic way to navigate conversations with elegance. We kick off with a classic Winston Churchill story, illustrating the power of witty comebacks and strategic communication.
We discuss techniques such as unexpected agreement, turning negatives into positives, and the mentor technique, which can help you redirect conversations and disarm verbal attacks. These methods are not just about deflecting criticism but about owning the conversation with a clever twist.
We also explore the psychological principles behind these techniques, such as framing and cognitive dissonance, and how they can be used to make others question their assumptions. Additionally, we introduce the 3 B's rule for building bulletproof arguments: assertion, reasoning, and example.
Throughout the episode, we emphasize that quick-wittedness is a skill that can be developed with practice, much like learning an instrument or a language. It's about being an effective communicator, expressing yourself with confidence and grace, and setting a positive tone in conversations.
Join us as we challenge you to experiment with these techniques in your own life and see how they can enhance your communication skills. Remember, every conversation is an opportunity to hone this skill, so go out there and have fun with it!
[00:00:08]
Martin Kloss:
Hi, and welcome to People Play Story, a podcast about storytelling and how to communicate with impact. My name is Martin Kloss, and I'm a professional story coach and speaker trainer. I recently wrote a book. It's called People Play Story, but it's only available in German for now. So to help me reach a wider audience and spread the word about the power of stories, I created this podcast. Full disclosure, what you're about to hear is generated by an AI, courtesy of Google's notebook LM. And each episode is based on a different chapter of my book. I hope you enjoy it and that I can give you something to think about today. Have fun.
[00:00:53] Unknown:
Hey, everyone. Have you ever found yourself tongue tied when you really wish you had the perfect comeback? Oh, absolutely. Well, get ready because today's deep dive, we're all about becoming brilliantly quick witted. I love it. So buckle up. We are jumping into a chapter called are you ready for this? Okay. That's German for quick wittedness.
[00:01:17] Unknown:
Wow.
[00:01:18] Unknown:
And trust me, this stuff is potent. I believe it. So what's so fascinating about this idea of being quick witted? I mean, it's not about being, like, you know Right. You don't wanna be a verbal assassin. It's really more about, how do you say it, navigating conversations.
[00:01:31] Unknown:
But with, like, a certain elegant strategy,
[00:01:35] Unknown:
you're not, like, trying to dominate the other person. You're just redirecting the flow. Oh, that's a really good point. And it's funny you should say that because our source material actually kicks off with a classic Winston Churchill story. And talk about verbal judo. He was the master. He really was. This story goes that lady Astor who, let's just say, was not a fan Right. Told Churchill, if I were your wife, I'd poison your coffee. Oh, burn. Right. And Churchill, completely unfazed, just replies, and if I were your husband, I'd drink it. Mic drop. I know. Right? He's got it. Like, come back over. You know? It's done. But it's not just about these witty comebacks. Right?
[00:02:14] Unknown:
It's strategic. It's very strategic. Because he didn't even address her insult directly.
[00:02:19] Unknown:
He just used her words, her own words, to kind of flip the script back on her. Yeah. I've gotta say, I am not that quick on my feet, and I can think about a 1000000 comebacks, like, 2 hours later. Right. Of course, after the fact. But in the moment, I just completely freeze. I remember one time someone made this really snarky comment about my taste in music, and I just I don't even know word salad came out. I don't even know what I said. Oh, I've been there. So how can we train ourselves to be more like Churchill in those moments where we just, like, boom, have that comeback? Well, lucky for us, our source actually breaks down specific techniques.
[00:02:54] Unknown:
Oh, good. And one that seems, I don't know, kinda counterintuitive at first is called unexpected agreement.
[00:03:01] Unknown:
Okay. Unpack that for me because how do you agree with someone who is, like, attacking you? It's not so much, like, full on agreement, but it's more about finding a way
[00:03:10] Unknown:
to agree with their statement, but with your own twist. So the text actually gives us a really good example. Like, let's say someone says, your hair is a mess. Right. You could say something like, you're right. It's my comfort look today, or you're a good observer. This is my personal style. I love that. Yeah. Because it's like you're agreeing, but you're also kind of subtly implying that they've totally missed the point. Exactly. It's like good observation, but you missed what I was going for. Right. You disarm them. Exactly. You just completely disarm them. I like that. And then another technique is turning negatives into positives. Okay. And it's kinda what it sounds like. Right? You take a negative statement, and you reframe it to kinda shift the entire perspective. So if someone says, you're dumb,
[00:03:55] Unknown:
I shouldn't say, well, you're ugly.
[00:03:58] Unknown:
Right? Yeah. Maybe not the best approach. But, like, what do you say to them? Yeah. Exactly. Instead of stooping to their level, what if you said, if dumb means finding simple solutions, then yes. I am. I like it. So you're taking their label, right, that negative label, and you're reframing it as a positive attribute. So it's not about just, like,
[00:04:21] Unknown:
deflecting it. It's about owning it, but putting your own spin on it. Exactly. That's actually a really good example of something called framing. Framing. Yeah. It's a psychological principle. Basically, you change how people perceive something just by changing how it's presented. It's all about presentation. It really is. Which is so interesting because you start to see this theme that it's not just about, like, you know, winning an argument or having the last word. It's about taking back control of the conversation Mhmm. And not letting someone else dictate how that conversation's gonna go. Precisely. And
[00:04:52] Unknown:
it gets even more interesting because our source actually calls this next technique the mentor technique. Mentor technique. Okay. Now that has my attention. Now it's not quite like a, you know A mountaintop retreat. Yeah. It's not quite a mountaintop retreat or anything, but it is about clever redirection. Okay. So imagine someone says, this makes no sense. It's unrealistic. Right. Instead of getting defensive, you could ask them, what would make more sense? How should it be to be realistic? So is it arguing back? You're saying, alright. You're the expert. Teach me. Exactly. Oh, I love it. Right. And think about it. You've shifted the burden of explanation onto them. Right? You've invited them to, like, think a little more critically about their own perspective. And there's actually, you know, a little subtle psychological principle at play here called cognitive dissonance.
Oh, tell me more. So people naturally want their beliefs and their actions to kind of be in alignment. Right. Of course. But when you use something like this mentor technique, you're kind of introducing a little bit of dissonance by making them confront, like, okay. Well, what are the flaws potentially in my own thinking? Oh, that's so good. It really makes you think about how
[00:06:03] Unknown:
how we usually approach disagreements. Right? Mhmm. It's like we arm ourselves with all these counterarguments. Yeah. You're ready to go. Ready to, like, fire back. Yeah. But what I'm hearing from our sources, sometimes the most disarming thing you can do is actually make the other person question their stance.
[00:06:19] Unknown:
Absolutely. And think about it. You can't win a war of attrition against someone who's ready to just throw words at you Right. Like an endless supply. Right. It's like that saying, never argue with someone who buys ink by the barrel. Exactly. But
[00:06:33] Unknown:
what you can do is use their own momentum against them, which I think is a really interesting concept. Yeah. And and sometimes I don't know about you, but I feel like a well placed you know, like, a little dose of humor can be just the thing to kind of diffuse a tense situation.
[00:06:48] Unknown:
Absolutely. And our source actually talks about this. They talk about the power of humor as a tool for quick wittedness, and they say that, yeah, a well timed joke or just a witty remark can often just lighten the mood and sometimes even win over an audience. Because no one wants to stay mad when they're, like, laughing and chuckling. It's like, why even bother? You just wanna have a good time. Exactly. But I think you're right. There's a fine line. Right? Yes. Definitely. You know, between that kind of playful banter and going too far. Yeah. Because you don't wanna be the jerk at the party who's, like, you know,
[00:07:18] Unknown:
making fun of people and being mean. Right. It's about being clever and observant,
[00:07:22] Unknown:
not cutting someone down. Okay. I like that. So it's like you're adding a little sparkle to the conversation, not trying to, like, burn the whole thing down. Yeah. A great analogy. It really is. Yeah. You know? And I think this goes back to something we were talking about earlier. Right? It's about using these things strategically. Right. Like, with the humor. Right. You wouldn't necessarily it's not like you have this, like, stand up routine prepped and ready to go. You're reading the room. You're using your humor judiciously. Right. It's all about the approach.
[00:07:52] Unknown:
So what about those times when it's not even about, like, you know, a witty comeback Yeah. But about navigating those, like, really loaded questions that people ask Oh, I know what you mean. Where someone says something like, you agree with me that Yeah. Or I'm sure you think. Yeah. It's almost like you can you can practically hear the trap door about to spring open. Oh, absolutely. Those conversational power plays disguised as innocent questions. Yes. And our source even dives into that a little
[00:08:22] Unknown:
bit too. And, basically, what they're saying is that, you know, those are often tactics that people use to try to back you into a corner. Right. And the danger is if you simply say no Yep. Then you end up sounding negative.
[00:08:32] Unknown:
And I'm so busy in my head already trying to, like, defend myself Yeah. Exactly. That a no just flies out before I can stop it. Oh, I've been there. Yeah. Yeah. So how do you how do you recommend, you know, like, handling those situations gracefully? And would you kinda see that coming at you? Well, they have a really, I think, a useful
[00:08:52] Unknown:
suggestion here, and they say the key is to deflect. Right? Don't deny outright. So instead of saying that flat no, what if you respond with a question that prompts them to elaborate a little bit more on their thinking? Okay. So instead of just shutting it down, you could say something like, what makes you so sure? Or why do you assume that? Oh, why do you assume that? Okay. Yeah. Because you're not saying, like, you're wrong, but you're also not letting them you know what I mean? Like Exactly. You're showing them you're engaged. You're not just trying to shut down the conversation. Right. But you're also not about to be, like, railroaded. Yes. Right. And it subtly highlights those assumptions. Right? Because they might not even realize they're them. It makes them think a little bit more. Exactly.
[00:09:32] Unknown:
And so far, you know, we've been talking about kind of these more reactive techniques, like how do you respond in the moment? Right. But what if you could be proactive in your communication and build these, like, bulletproof arguments right from the start. I love that. And this is where this is where our source introduces the 3 b rule, which I think is fascinating. So this is a framework for just being a clearer and more compelling communicator. Bulletproof arguments.
[00:09:58] Unknown:
I like the sound of that. Especially, you know, if like me, you sometimes find yourself, like, in the middle of something, and you're like, wait.
[00:10:05] Unknown:
I need to, like, come up with a better argument right now. Yeah. You need that arsenal. So break it down. What are the 3 b's? Okay. So it's actually it's very simple, but it's really powerful. So the 3 b's stand for the haptum. That's assertion, which is reasoning, and
[00:10:22] Unknown:
which is an example. So it's got 1, 2 punch. Yeah. But with an extra punch for good measure. Exactly. So you start by, like, stating your point. You gotta be clear about what you're saying. This is what I believe. Right. Exactly. Then back it up with why the reasoning Exactly. And then bring it to life with a relatable example so people can really connect. Make it real. And the source is saying that when you do that, it makes your arguments not only more persuasive, but more memorable. Right. Because we all, like,
[00:10:49] Unknown:
zone out or whatever. Then people, if they can't remember what you said, you've lost them. Exactly. Yep. So it's like you're building this fortress around your ideas. I love that. You've got the strong walls and, like, maybe even a moat with crocodiles.
[00:11:02] Unknown:
Exactly.
[00:11:03] Unknown:
I feel like this entire deep dive has been so eye opening. Like, I've been handed a toolkit. I'm ready to go have better conversations. I love it. So
[00:11:11] Unknown:
as we kinda wrap things up here, what are the key takeaways that we should all remember about mastering this whole quick witted communication thing? I think a big one is remember that quick wittedness. It really is a skill. It's not like this magical ability you're born with or you're not. Oh, good. Because I was feeling a little inadequate for a minute. No. It's like playing an instrument or learning a language. You get better with practice.
[00:11:35] Unknown:
So if we don't nail that perfect comeback every single time, it's fine. We just have to keep practicing, keep learning. Absolutely. Progress, not perfection. Right. I get it. And the more you practice these different techniques that we were talking about today, whether it's the,
[00:11:49] Unknown:
you know, unexpected agreement or the 3 b rule, the more it just becomes natural for those high stakes conversations. And, remember, I think the biggest takeaway here is it's not about winning every exchange, but it's about being an effective communicator, especially when things maybe get a little tricky.
[00:12:06] Unknown:
Yeah. It's about expressing yourself with confidence and grace, but also that strategic brilliance, like we were talking about with Churchill. Exactly. You got it. Our source mostly focused on how to respond when, like, you know, you're being attacked or criticized. But do you think you could also use these techniques to, like, make your conversations more positive right from the start? Absolutely. That's such a good point. Imagine if you, like,
[00:12:31] Unknown:
used humor, not as a defense mechanism, but, like, to set a more lighthearted tone from the very beginning. Oh, I like that. Or even using the 3 b rule to not just defend your ideas, but to present them in a way that's so clear and compelling
[00:12:45] Unknown:
that it actually invites people in. Yes. Instead of them being, like, ready for a fight. Exact. It's like you're on the same team. That's the goal. So instead of just, like, being defensive with these tools Yeah. We're actually shaping the entire tone of the conversation. Love that. Be intentional. Which is it's really cool because it goes to show that, you know, words are powerful. And when you use them skillfully They really are. You can make such a difference, whether it's like, you know, you're facing down some verbal attack or just trying to, like, connect with someone on a deeper level. I think that's a great place to end it. Every conversation is a chance to hone this. It's like a muscle. Yeah. We've just gotta keep working it. So listeners, your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to go out there and experiment. Yes. Try out these techniques in your own lives. Yeah. You know, bring a little bit of schlagfirdigkeit.
I love that we're ending with that word. I know. Right? Yeah. That great German word for quick wittedness, and and see what happens. You might just surprise yourself with how much more effectively, how much more powerfully you can communicate. And have fun. Yes. Exactly. Have fun with it. Alright. So that's all for this deep dive into the art of sharp communication. Until next time. Happy conversing, everybody.
[00:14:04] Martin Kloss:
Hi, everyone. It's me again. Just a quick note before I let you go. I hope you found today's episode entertaining, engaging, and maybe even inspiring. If you did, please spread the word. And if you didn't, please keep it to yourself. And if you wanna know more, have any questions, or wanna work with me, please get in touch with me on martinklaus.com or on LinkedIn. Now have a great day. Go out and do something fun.
Hi, and welcome to People Play Story, a podcast about storytelling and how to communicate with impact. My name is Martin Kloss, and I'm a professional story coach and speaker trainer. I recently wrote a book. It's called People Play Story, but it's only available in German for now. So to help me reach a wider audience and spread the word about the power of stories, I created this podcast. Full disclosure, what you're about to hear is generated by an AI, courtesy of Google's notebook LM. And each episode is based on a different chapter of my book. I hope you enjoy it and that I can give you something to think about today. Have fun.
[00:00:53] Unknown:
Hey, everyone. Have you ever found yourself tongue tied when you really wish you had the perfect comeback? Oh, absolutely. Well, get ready because today's deep dive, we're all about becoming brilliantly quick witted. I love it. So buckle up. We are jumping into a chapter called are you ready for this? Okay. That's German for quick wittedness.
[00:01:17] Unknown:
Wow.
[00:01:18] Unknown:
And trust me, this stuff is potent. I believe it. So what's so fascinating about this idea of being quick witted? I mean, it's not about being, like, you know Right. You don't wanna be a verbal assassin. It's really more about, how do you say it, navigating conversations.
[00:01:31] Unknown:
But with, like, a certain elegant strategy,
[00:01:35] Unknown:
you're not, like, trying to dominate the other person. You're just redirecting the flow. Oh, that's a really good point. And it's funny you should say that because our source material actually kicks off with a classic Winston Churchill story. And talk about verbal judo. He was the master. He really was. This story goes that lady Astor who, let's just say, was not a fan Right. Told Churchill, if I were your wife, I'd poison your coffee. Oh, burn. Right. And Churchill, completely unfazed, just replies, and if I were your husband, I'd drink it. Mic drop. I know. Right? He's got it. Like, come back over. You know? It's done. But it's not just about these witty comebacks. Right?
[00:02:14] Unknown:
It's strategic. It's very strategic. Because he didn't even address her insult directly.
[00:02:19] Unknown:
He just used her words, her own words, to kind of flip the script back on her. Yeah. I've gotta say, I am not that quick on my feet, and I can think about a 1000000 comebacks, like, 2 hours later. Right. Of course, after the fact. But in the moment, I just completely freeze. I remember one time someone made this really snarky comment about my taste in music, and I just I don't even know word salad came out. I don't even know what I said. Oh, I've been there. So how can we train ourselves to be more like Churchill in those moments where we just, like, boom, have that comeback? Well, lucky for us, our source actually breaks down specific techniques.
[00:02:54] Unknown:
Oh, good. And one that seems, I don't know, kinda counterintuitive at first is called unexpected agreement.
[00:03:01] Unknown:
Okay. Unpack that for me because how do you agree with someone who is, like, attacking you? It's not so much, like, full on agreement, but it's more about finding a way
[00:03:10] Unknown:
to agree with their statement, but with your own twist. So the text actually gives us a really good example. Like, let's say someone says, your hair is a mess. Right. You could say something like, you're right. It's my comfort look today, or you're a good observer. This is my personal style. I love that. Yeah. Because it's like you're agreeing, but you're also kind of subtly implying that they've totally missed the point. Exactly. It's like good observation, but you missed what I was going for. Right. You disarm them. Exactly. You just completely disarm them. I like that. And then another technique is turning negatives into positives. Okay. And it's kinda what it sounds like. Right? You take a negative statement, and you reframe it to kinda shift the entire perspective. So if someone says, you're dumb,
[00:03:55] Unknown:
I shouldn't say, well, you're ugly.
[00:03:58] Unknown:
Right? Yeah. Maybe not the best approach. But, like, what do you say to them? Yeah. Exactly. Instead of stooping to their level, what if you said, if dumb means finding simple solutions, then yes. I am. I like it. So you're taking their label, right, that negative label, and you're reframing it as a positive attribute. So it's not about just, like,
[00:04:21] Unknown:
deflecting it. It's about owning it, but putting your own spin on it. Exactly. That's actually a really good example of something called framing. Framing. Yeah. It's a psychological principle. Basically, you change how people perceive something just by changing how it's presented. It's all about presentation. It really is. Which is so interesting because you start to see this theme that it's not just about, like, you know, winning an argument or having the last word. It's about taking back control of the conversation Mhmm. And not letting someone else dictate how that conversation's gonna go. Precisely. And
[00:04:52] Unknown:
it gets even more interesting because our source actually calls this next technique the mentor technique. Mentor technique. Okay. Now that has my attention. Now it's not quite like a, you know A mountaintop retreat. Yeah. It's not quite a mountaintop retreat or anything, but it is about clever redirection. Okay. So imagine someone says, this makes no sense. It's unrealistic. Right. Instead of getting defensive, you could ask them, what would make more sense? How should it be to be realistic? So is it arguing back? You're saying, alright. You're the expert. Teach me. Exactly. Oh, I love it. Right. And think about it. You've shifted the burden of explanation onto them. Right? You've invited them to, like, think a little more critically about their own perspective. And there's actually, you know, a little subtle psychological principle at play here called cognitive dissonance.
Oh, tell me more. So people naturally want their beliefs and their actions to kind of be in alignment. Right. Of course. But when you use something like this mentor technique, you're kind of introducing a little bit of dissonance by making them confront, like, okay. Well, what are the flaws potentially in my own thinking? Oh, that's so good. It really makes you think about how
[00:06:03] Unknown:
how we usually approach disagreements. Right? Mhmm. It's like we arm ourselves with all these counterarguments. Yeah. You're ready to go. Ready to, like, fire back. Yeah. But what I'm hearing from our sources, sometimes the most disarming thing you can do is actually make the other person question their stance.
[00:06:19] Unknown:
Absolutely. And think about it. You can't win a war of attrition against someone who's ready to just throw words at you Right. Like an endless supply. Right. It's like that saying, never argue with someone who buys ink by the barrel. Exactly. But
[00:06:33] Unknown:
what you can do is use their own momentum against them, which I think is a really interesting concept. Yeah. And and sometimes I don't know about you, but I feel like a well placed you know, like, a little dose of humor can be just the thing to kind of diffuse a tense situation.
[00:06:48] Unknown:
Absolutely. And our source actually talks about this. They talk about the power of humor as a tool for quick wittedness, and they say that, yeah, a well timed joke or just a witty remark can often just lighten the mood and sometimes even win over an audience. Because no one wants to stay mad when they're, like, laughing and chuckling. It's like, why even bother? You just wanna have a good time. Exactly. But I think you're right. There's a fine line. Right? Yes. Definitely. You know, between that kind of playful banter and going too far. Yeah. Because you don't wanna be the jerk at the party who's, like, you know,
[00:07:18] Unknown:
making fun of people and being mean. Right. It's about being clever and observant,
[00:07:22] Unknown:
not cutting someone down. Okay. I like that. So it's like you're adding a little sparkle to the conversation, not trying to, like, burn the whole thing down. Yeah. A great analogy. It really is. Yeah. You know? And I think this goes back to something we were talking about earlier. Right? It's about using these things strategically. Right. Like, with the humor. Right. You wouldn't necessarily it's not like you have this, like, stand up routine prepped and ready to go. You're reading the room. You're using your humor judiciously. Right. It's all about the approach.
[00:07:52] Unknown:
So what about those times when it's not even about, like, you know, a witty comeback Yeah. But about navigating those, like, really loaded questions that people ask Oh, I know what you mean. Where someone says something like, you agree with me that Yeah. Or I'm sure you think. Yeah. It's almost like you can you can practically hear the trap door about to spring open. Oh, absolutely. Those conversational power plays disguised as innocent questions. Yes. And our source even dives into that a little
[00:08:22] Unknown:
bit too. And, basically, what they're saying is that, you know, those are often tactics that people use to try to back you into a corner. Right. And the danger is if you simply say no Yep. Then you end up sounding negative.
[00:08:32] Unknown:
And I'm so busy in my head already trying to, like, defend myself Yeah. Exactly. That a no just flies out before I can stop it. Oh, I've been there. Yeah. Yeah. So how do you how do you recommend, you know, like, handling those situations gracefully? And would you kinda see that coming at you? Well, they have a really, I think, a useful
[00:08:52] Unknown:
suggestion here, and they say the key is to deflect. Right? Don't deny outright. So instead of saying that flat no, what if you respond with a question that prompts them to elaborate a little bit more on their thinking? Okay. So instead of just shutting it down, you could say something like, what makes you so sure? Or why do you assume that? Oh, why do you assume that? Okay. Yeah. Because you're not saying, like, you're wrong, but you're also not letting them you know what I mean? Like Exactly. You're showing them you're engaged. You're not just trying to shut down the conversation. Right. But you're also not about to be, like, railroaded. Yes. Right. And it subtly highlights those assumptions. Right? Because they might not even realize they're them. It makes them think a little bit more. Exactly.
[00:09:32] Unknown:
And so far, you know, we've been talking about kind of these more reactive techniques, like how do you respond in the moment? Right. But what if you could be proactive in your communication and build these, like, bulletproof arguments right from the start. I love that. And this is where this is where our source introduces the 3 b rule, which I think is fascinating. So this is a framework for just being a clearer and more compelling communicator. Bulletproof arguments.
[00:09:58] Unknown:
I like the sound of that. Especially, you know, if like me, you sometimes find yourself, like, in the middle of something, and you're like, wait.
[00:10:05] Unknown:
I need to, like, come up with a better argument right now. Yeah. You need that arsenal. So break it down. What are the 3 b's? Okay. So it's actually it's very simple, but it's really powerful. So the 3 b's stand for the haptum. That's assertion, which is reasoning, and
[00:10:22] Unknown:
which is an example. So it's got 1, 2 punch. Yeah. But with an extra punch for good measure. Exactly. So you start by, like, stating your point. You gotta be clear about what you're saying. This is what I believe. Right. Exactly. Then back it up with why the reasoning Exactly. And then bring it to life with a relatable example so people can really connect. Make it real. And the source is saying that when you do that, it makes your arguments not only more persuasive, but more memorable. Right. Because we all, like,
[00:10:49] Unknown:
zone out or whatever. Then people, if they can't remember what you said, you've lost them. Exactly. Yep. So it's like you're building this fortress around your ideas. I love that. You've got the strong walls and, like, maybe even a moat with crocodiles.
[00:11:02] Unknown:
Exactly.
[00:11:03] Unknown:
I feel like this entire deep dive has been so eye opening. Like, I've been handed a toolkit. I'm ready to go have better conversations. I love it. So
[00:11:11] Unknown:
as we kinda wrap things up here, what are the key takeaways that we should all remember about mastering this whole quick witted communication thing? I think a big one is remember that quick wittedness. It really is a skill. It's not like this magical ability you're born with or you're not. Oh, good. Because I was feeling a little inadequate for a minute. No. It's like playing an instrument or learning a language. You get better with practice.
[00:11:35] Unknown:
So if we don't nail that perfect comeback every single time, it's fine. We just have to keep practicing, keep learning. Absolutely. Progress, not perfection. Right. I get it. And the more you practice these different techniques that we were talking about today, whether it's the,
[00:11:49] Unknown:
you know, unexpected agreement or the 3 b rule, the more it just becomes natural for those high stakes conversations. And, remember, I think the biggest takeaway here is it's not about winning every exchange, but it's about being an effective communicator, especially when things maybe get a little tricky.
[00:12:06] Unknown:
Yeah. It's about expressing yourself with confidence and grace, but also that strategic brilliance, like we were talking about with Churchill. Exactly. You got it. Our source mostly focused on how to respond when, like, you know, you're being attacked or criticized. But do you think you could also use these techniques to, like, make your conversations more positive right from the start? Absolutely. That's such a good point. Imagine if you, like,
[00:12:31] Unknown:
used humor, not as a defense mechanism, but, like, to set a more lighthearted tone from the very beginning. Oh, I like that. Or even using the 3 b rule to not just defend your ideas, but to present them in a way that's so clear and compelling
[00:12:45] Unknown:
that it actually invites people in. Yes. Instead of them being, like, ready for a fight. Exact. It's like you're on the same team. That's the goal. So instead of just, like, being defensive with these tools Yeah. We're actually shaping the entire tone of the conversation. Love that. Be intentional. Which is it's really cool because it goes to show that, you know, words are powerful. And when you use them skillfully They really are. You can make such a difference, whether it's like, you know, you're facing down some verbal attack or just trying to, like, connect with someone on a deeper level. I think that's a great place to end it. Every conversation is a chance to hone this. It's like a muscle. Yeah. We've just gotta keep working it. So listeners, your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to go out there and experiment. Yes. Try out these techniques in your own lives. Yeah. You know, bring a little bit of schlagfirdigkeit.
I love that we're ending with that word. I know. Right? Yeah. That great German word for quick wittedness, and and see what happens. You might just surprise yourself with how much more effectively, how much more powerfully you can communicate. And have fun. Yes. Exactly. Have fun with it. Alright. So that's all for this deep dive into the art of sharp communication. Until next time. Happy conversing, everybody.
[00:14:04] Martin Kloss:
Hi, everyone. It's me again. Just a quick note before I let you go. I hope you found today's episode entertaining, engaging, and maybe even inspiring. If you did, please spread the word. And if you didn't, please keep it to yourself. And if you wanna know more, have any questions, or wanna work with me, please get in touch with me on martinklaus.com or on LinkedIn. Now have a great day. Go out and do something fun.
