ABCs of Effective Communication


By: JoJo Tabares

A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. -Proverbs 25:11
B e careful of your thoughts; they could become words at any moment. -Ira Gassen
C ourage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. Winston Churchill
D iscussion is an exchange of knowledge; argument an exchange of ignorance. -Robert Quillen
E ven if you learn to speak correct English, whom are you going to speak it to?-Clarence Darrow
F oolishness always results when the tongue outraces the brain. -Unknown
G ood communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after. -Anne Morrow Lindbergh
H enny Youngman once said, “Anybody who thinks talk is cheap never argued with a traffic cop.”
I t is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool then to open it and resolve all doubt. -Abraham Lincoln
J ames Humes said “The art of communication is the language of leadership.”
K eep your words soft and tender because tomorrow you may have to eat them. -Unknown
L et your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. -Colossians 4:6
M ost conversations are merely monologues delivered in the presence of a witness. -Margaret Millar
N ever argue wih a fool. Someone watching might not be able to tell the difference. -Unknown
O ne of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say. -Will Durant
P lato said “Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.”
Q uestion the source and you will discern any bias. -JoJo Tabares
R emember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. -Benjamin Franklin
S ay what you mean and mean what you say. -George S. Patton
T he right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously. -Hubert Humphrey
U nderstanding your audience is key to persuading them.- JoJo Tabares
V erbocity leads to unclear, inarticulate things. -Dan Quayle
W ell timed silence hath more eloquence than speech. -Martin Farquahar Tupper
X tremes communicate less persuasively than does accuracy. -JoJo Tabares
Y ou can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas won’t get you anywhere. -Lee Iacocca
Z ero equals one speaking plus no one listening. -JoJo Tabares
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JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication, but it is her humorous approach to communication skills which has made her a highly sought-after Christian speaker and writer.  Her articles appear in homeschool publications, such as Homeschool Enrichment Magazine and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, which also endorses her Say What You Mean curricula.  You can also find JoJo on web sites such as Crosswalk.com and Dr.Laura.com.  For more information on communication FUNdamentals and Christian-based communication skills for the whole family, please visit http://www.ArtofEloquence.com