Think Like The Person You're "Speaking" To
One of the best lessons I've learned from going back to work at CTNE & working with Ben.
This year, our younger kids were both in middle school together, freeing me up to spend more time working in our gym, CompTrain New England…which I love, for several reasons. My title there is Youth Program Director & Director of Communications.
And, again, I love my responsibilities there, I love the people I am surrounded with, and I love the work I get to do. It is so much work and is a big pull on me and our family as a “stay at home mom”…which is what I still think of myself as, regardless of how many hours I work. But, I would be a fraction of the person I am if I didn’t have that job as part of my every day.
I think one of the very best lessons I’ve learned while working at CTNE and with Ben is this:
Your message is only as good as your ability to think like the person you’re “speaking” to.
And, that “person” changes constantly. Sometimes it’s the middle schoolers I’m coaching, sometimes it’s their parents. Sometimes it’s people that are already members, sometimes it’s social media followers that are on the other side of the planet. Sometimes it’s someone you’re talking to in-person, sometimes it’s a room full of people that are reading your message on a monitor.
These differences are game changers in terms of whether someone is willing to give you their attention and listen to what you have to say.
You can be saying what you think is the most profound, most ground-breaking message. But, if you don’t speak to others on their terms, your message will never be heard.
When I’m creating our weekly kids newsletter, I’m rewiring my brain to think like a parent, not someone who’s trying to make a good-looking newsletter: I want my kid to avoid injuries but also build a strong work ethic, I’m overwhelmed with Spring schedules but I want to get my kid in if they have a random free day, and I want my kids to get along better with their siblings but they’re not listening to what I’m saying about their behavior.
And, like most things, this isn’t just a “work” thing. It’s an everyday, be a better version of yourself thing. Think like the person you’re “speaking” to.