Say the right words and the right time

7. Say the right words and the right time.

Saying the right words is important, but timing is crucial. Sometimes the best policy is to say nothing; to remain silent at the right time. Be sensitive to time and place. Pay attention to the context. Say it from the heart; how you say it is just as important as what you say.

To apply this principle: Forget about what you want to say and focus on what the other person needs to hear. Ask what you would want to hear if you were in this person’s shoes. Say the right words at the right time from the heart.


From: 25 Ways to Win with People, by John Maxwell and Les Parrott.