* 5 Directing a Conversation (p.6 of 8)

5.26ï¿½ï¿½ When you donï¿½t want the speaker to repeat the point

So you said.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I like this place.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½If you like it, I donï¿½t mind being here.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½This place is excellent.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½So you said.ï¿½>

I get the point.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½I understand what you want to say.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½You donï¿½t need to repeat it. I get the point.ï¿½>

All right, already.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½I understood you. You donï¿½t need to repeat it.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I told you the boss was awaiting your report.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½All right, already. Donï¿½t push me.ï¿½>

I heard you, already.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Come on! Letï¿½s go!ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I heard you, already. Donï¿½t rush me.ï¿½>

Stop harping on that subject.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Stop raising that topic again and again.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I know I made a mistake. Stop harping on that subject.ï¿½>

You are preaching to the choir.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½You are trying to convince a group of people who are already on your side.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Donï¿½t waste your time explaining us the problem. You are preaching to the choirï¿½>

You sound like a broken record.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½How many times do I need to ask you to help me?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½You sound like a broken record. Canï¿½t you wait?ï¿½>

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5.27ï¿½ï¿½ When you stop a person from speaking

Some things are better left unsaid.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½There are subjects that should not be discussed.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I really donï¿½t know how to tell you this newsï¿½. ï¿½ ï¿½Then donï¿½t. Some things are better left unsaidï¿½.>

Donï¿½t waste your breath.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Donï¿½t even speak because you wonï¿½t get anywhere with it.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ < ï¿½Iï¿½ll talk Bob into spending his vacations with us.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Donï¿½t waste your breath. He already has other plans.ï¿½>

Keep it to yourself.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Donï¿½t tell me about it.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Iï¿½ve got bad news.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Keep it to yourself.ï¿½>

Spare me the story.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Donï¿½t tell me your story.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Spare me the story. I donï¿½t want to hear anything.ï¿½>

Save it!ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Save your story. Stop talking about it.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Save it! Iï¿½m not interested.ï¿½>

Shut up!ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Close your mouth!ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Iï¿½ve got more to say.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Shut up! Iï¿½ve heard enough.ï¿½>

Zip up your mouth!ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Youï¿½ve said enough. Zip up your mouth.ï¿½>

Give it a rest!ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Give your mouth a rest!ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½It seems like you arenï¿½t paying attention to what Iï¿½m saying.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Give it a rest! Iï¿½m tired of this conversation.ï¿½>

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5.28ï¿½ï¿½ When you want to return to your point

What was I saying?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½My train of thought was disrupted and now I am going to return to my point.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Iï¿½m sorry. We got interrupted. What was I saying?ï¿½>

Where was I?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½That telephone call made me lose the thread of my argument. Where was I?ï¿½>

What were we talking about?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½What were we talking about? Oh, yes! You asked me an interesting question.ï¿½>

Iï¿½ve lost my train of thought for a moment.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Sorry, Iï¿½ve lost my train of thought for a moment. Letï¿½s continue our conversation.ï¿½>

Iï¿½m a little absent-minded.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Iï¿½m a little absent-minded. Anyway, I want to go on with my story.ï¿½>

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5.29ï¿½ï¿½ When you want a person to speak in simple language

Give it to me in plain English.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Tell it to me in clear language.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½This is way too complicated. Give it to me in plain English.ï¿½>

What does that mean in plain English?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Iï¿½m sorry. I donï¿½t understand your point. What does that mean in plain English?ï¿½>

Stop circumventing the issue.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Stop maneuvering around the topic of discussion.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Get to the point. Stop circumventing the issue.ï¿½>

Stop speaking in circles.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Cut to the chase. Stop speaking in circles.ï¿½>

Put your cards on the table.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Explain clearly.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Tell me the full story. Put your cards on the table.ï¿½>

Donï¿½t beat around the bush.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Donï¿½t avoid an open talk.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Answer my direct question. Donï¿½t beat around the bush.ï¿½>

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5.30ï¿½ï¿½ When you express understanding

I understand.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I got sick that day. This is why I did not show up.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I understand.ï¿½>

I see. Listen A “I see your point. I understand.” <“Our airplane couldn’t take off on time due to some technical problem.” – “I see.”>

I get it.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Wildfires are common in California. Firefighters are ready all the time.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I get it.ï¿½>

I got it.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Every member of the crew must obey captainï¿½s orders.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I got it.ï¿½>

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5.31ï¿½ï¿½ When you want to interrupt and add some information

Iï¿½m sorry to interrupt, but youï¿½re not exactly right.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Maï¿½am, Iï¿½m sorry to interrupt, but youï¿½re not exactly right. Thereï¿½re different opinions about that.ï¿½>

I beg your pardon, but I donï¿½t think thatï¿½s entirely correct.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Boss, I beg your pardon, but I donï¿½t think thatï¿½s entirely correct. Allow me to explain.ï¿½>

May I interrupt for a minute?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½May I interrupt for a minute? The train is about to leave.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Oh, yes, we need to board the train immediately.ï¿½>

Can I say something?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½We can go to the beach either in Santa Barbara or in Ventura, whichever you prefer.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Can I say something? I hate to rain on your parade, but I heard a storm advisory an hour ago.ï¿½>

Can I add something here?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½You two have been arguing all day. Can I add something here?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½What do you want to add to our highly scientific discussion?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Pipe down. Take your disagreements elsewhere.ï¿½>

Can I put in my two centsï¿½ worth?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Can I contribute some small value to the conversation?ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Iï¿½ve heard your arguments in favor of the new theory and against it. Can I put in my two centsï¿½ worth?ï¿½>

If I may.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½If you allow me to interject a remark.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Guys, if I may. Neither the Earth nor the Sun is the center of the universe. The universe is infinite, and both the Earth and the Sun are celestial bodies traveling across it.ï¿½>

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5.32ï¿½ï¿½ When you want to highlight the seriousness of your point

Iï¿½m dead serious.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Listen, our project doesnï¿½t have much chance. Weï¿½ve got to work harder to save it. I am dead serious.ï¿½>

Iï¿½m not kidding.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Our company is in a very bad shape. Iï¿½m not kidding.ï¿½>

No kidding.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½I am not joking. It is serious.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½It appears like the dollar keeps falling.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½No kidding. Look at store prices!ï¿½>

No pun intended.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <A sales associate in a store saw that a customer with a broken hand had a hard time loading his shopping cart and said, ï¿½Can I give you a hand? No pun intended.ï¿½>

Joking aside.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Some people taunt him about his habits. But joking aside, he is a very efficient manager.ï¿½>

Whatï¿½s funny?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Guys, I am telling you the truth. Whatï¿½s funny?ï¿½>

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