What I Learned From My GitHub Profile

GitHub profile is often recognised as a developer’s portfolio. It reveals how often do you contribute, and what kind of projects do you like. Here’s what I learned from my GitHub profile.

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How To Infuse Positivity Into Your Words And Influence Your Audience

Your words mean much more than what you tell

Would you buy a toothpaste that gives a 95% guarantee that you would have no tooth problems? Or would you buy a toothpaste that states there is a 5% chance of having tooth problems after using it?

Statistically, both claims are identical, but the difference lies in what is being offered.

Everyone uses words. Nothing great about it. The greatness lies in how one uses those words to express the feelings intended. Relationships have gone sour, reigns have ended, even wars have ensued because mere words were misinterpreted.

Then again, for ages, politicians to rulers, spokespersons to leaders, influencers to educators-each have harnessed the power of words to drive home their message.

So, is it really possible to influence your listener just by using the right words?

It seems so.

But is a conjunction used when there is contradiction or opposition between the two elements of a sentence. Hence, usually, one part of the sentence is positive, and another contradicts that.

The words remaining the same, the order of the elements set a different tone in both cases. That also affects the way a reader interprets the communication.

Take, for example;

I would love to go with you, but I have to babysit my sister.

I have to babysit my sister, but I would love to go with you.

The first sentence raises the hope of the listener only to crash in the second part. Whereas in the rearranged sentence, the speaker places the reassuring or pleasing part for the latter, leaving a sweet aftertaste for the listener.

Though both the sentences mean the same, it leaves the listener feeling more positive about it.

Take another example;

We would like to hire you for the job, but we have received more than a dozen applications for the same.

We have received more than a dozen applications for the job, but we would like to hire you.

Imagine yourself as an aspirant for this job. And someone from the selection group writes you the first sentence. What runs through your mind? That maybe you are not getting this job. You are not very positive about the outcome.

Look at the rearranged form of communication. The same set of information is conveyed, but the effect is not the same. If you are the aspirant, it sounds promising and you feel uplifted.

There is no confirmation- neither in the original sentence, nor in the rearranged version, but the trailing sentiment is quite contrasting. The first one is dispiriting, while the other is encouraging.

‘You’ is a direct form of addressing a person. When attached with positivity, magnifies the addressed person’s character. And quite in the same way, when attached with negativity, sounds accusatory.

Sentences with ‘you’ are quite impactful. Hence, have to be handled with caution.

Take, for example, the following two sentences.

You scared me to death.

I was really petrified(by your actions).

The first clearly puts a certain amount of blame on the addressed person. An allegation. Whereas the second one states the same emotion and facts, conveniently omitting the ‘you’ angle.

In a more formal scenario:

You should have been more careful while dealing with this situation.

A more careful and detailed approach would have resolved this situation.

Though the message conveyed is the same, the tone of the same changes drastically. The first clearly puts the blame on a person; the second doesn’t blame anyone, in fact, it speaks of a solution.

In a corporate environment, where employee engagement is an important element of a workplace, consciousness towards what is being said makes immense sense.

But, when the person’s efforts have to be stressed, ‘you’ is a preferable pick.

Consider this:

Your persistent efforts helped us seal this deal.

Had it not been for the persistent efforts, this deal wouldn’t have seen the light of the day.

The first sentence distinctively applauds the person’s contribution, giving full credit for the success. Now consider the second. Whose persistent efforts is the speaker referring to? Is it me? The choice of words not only gives no clear commendation to the listener but also dampens the overall sentiment.

Being generous and emphatic with ‘you’ when appraising someone has a greater impact on the message communicated.

Be generous with ‘you’ in such cases.

In our daily casual and formal conversation, we infuse quite a bit of no-words. I don’t like, don’t, no problem, and more. With slight tweaking, we can easily say these phrases in a more appealing way.

I don’t like sugar in my coffee — I prefer/like black coffee.

Don’t put wet clothes in the laundry bag — Put only dry clothes in the laundry bag.

Don’t scream — Keep your voice low.

When there is a usage of negative words/phrases, it resonates a subtle tone that says- you are wrong. In a corporate environment or when communicating with children, where infusing positivity is important, such usage of words doesn't set the right precedence.

Here, I take the liberty to state that when you consciously try to use more positive statements and shun the negativity; it brings about a subtle change in your outlook too. You start to think and see things more positively.

Like Buddha says:

Your audience is rarely all men — unless you are in the men’s toilet. Being aware that you are addressing both men and women develops a great sense of inclusivity in your content. It may sound innocuous, but a phrase like everyone is what he perceives would make the other gender left out. A writer/speaker cannot afford that.

Every man needs love can become every individual needs love.

And, man does not hold the only claim over the earth can be stated as humankind does not hold the only claim over the earth.

When a teacher needs to communicate with the students, all she needs to do is get down to their level.

When a teacher needs to communicate with the students, all they need to do is get down to their level.

A writer has a tough job in his hands when he has a deadline to meet.

Writers have a tough job in their hands when they have a deadline to meet.

So, say a man only when you mean a man. Else, it is better to be more gender-neutral and include both.

I know we have always been advised to favor the active voice and that passive voice has been frowned upon. And reprimanded. But, sometimes, they are a great tool to put across your point just the way you want your listener to interpret. A tool lawyers across the world use a lot to their advantage, so much so that they are taught how to do it.

Emphasizing the subject or the object puts the limelight accordingly. This is called framing in the legal world; where, literally everything hangs on words and their interpretations.

Passive voice is used to downplay the subject and make it obscure.

The bureaucratic favorite:

By whom? Not known. The speaker adeptly avoids the ‘who’.

I will put an imaginary situation here where an argument is being made for a worker whose innocent mistake has caused the machine to break.

As you are aware, the plant needs to function 24X7. This makes it necessary for the workers to work beyond their stipulated working hours. That unfortunate day, Mr. Dean was covering for another worker. But owing to his exhaustion, he committed the mistake of mishandling the machine, resulting in its breakage.

What if something like this was said?

As per the Company policies, the running of the plant cannot be interrupted. This is achieved by the incessant efforts of the workers. That was an unfortunate day when Mr. Dean was asked by the Supervisor to replace another unavailable worker. Although he had just gotten off his own shift, he agreed to cover the post. And a forgivable mistake was committed; owing to the exhausted state of his mind.

Now, you might not go along, become a lawyer, and win a case; but you can surely win an argument. A word of caution — use it in moderation. Because a lot of passive voice can make the statement long, dull, and confusing.

I can borrow a phrase used by Naomi Shyhab Nye, in her poem about her grandmother — Words Under the Words; it clearly encapsulates the essence that each word has an underlying word that is understood when used.

So, when you need to sell an idea, need support, prove a point, or put across your side of the story; a lot depends on how you say it. Be it a simple conversation with your spouse or children, one can be a better communicator by being a little more aware of what words to choose.

What I Learned From My GitHub Profile

How To Infuse Positivity Into Your Words And Influence Your Audience

Your words mean much more than what you tell

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