Great communicating thoughts from Nido Qubein - one of the best communicators out there. This list is in his recent "Executive Briefings," and I thought I would cut it down to just the best - but they ALL have value and give food for thought - so here in it's entirety:

• Competence leads to confidence.
• Don't interrupt, but be interruptible.
• Leave every person feeling better for having talked to you -- they'll be happy to see you next time.
• Say what you mean, precisely what you mean, and only what you mean.
• When you're thinking ahead, you can't hear what's being said.
• Forget your ability to think faster than another person talks -- everybody has it, but only the foolish use it.
• Listen at least twice as much as you talk -- others will hear twice as much of what you say.
• It's our enemies from whom we learn the most.
• Talking when nobody is listening is as futile as trying to cut paper with half a pair of scissors
• If you create tension, you get resistance. If you create trust, you get response.
• Objections are what symptoms are to the medical doctor. They point to a problem that must be dealt with.
• Personal communication is hindered by hasty assumptions.
• Self-centered people tend to monopolize the talking. Secure people tend to monopolize the listening.
• You're wasting your time when you try to answer questions people are not asking.
• A "monologue in duet" happens when I think up what I'm going to say while you're saying what you thought up while I was talking.
• With life-long education, learning becomes a renewable resource.
• Make it a habit to say nice things about yourself, to yourself. You'll find that you like yourself better.
• The key to your success is to be sensitive enough to understand what other people want, and generous enough to help them get it.
• Pay attention to others and they will pay attention to you.
• Be interesting by being interested.
• The genius who can't communicate is intellectually impotent.
• The leader who can't communicate can't create the conditions that motivate.
• The organization that can't communicate can't change, and the corporation that can't change is dead.