You-Attitude

Putting what you want to say in You-Attitude is critical step both in thinking about the audience’s needs and in communicating your concern to the audience.

You-Attitude is a style of communicating which looks at things from the other parties point of view, empathizing what the audience want to know, respecting the listener’s/reader’s intelligence and protecting their ego. To apply you-attitude, use the following five techniques:

1. Focus on what the listeners received or can do. In positive or neutral situation, stress what the listener wants to know

Lacks you-attitude: I have negotiated an agreement with Apex Rent-a- Car that gives you a discount on rental cars.

You-Attitude: As a Sunstrand employee, you can now get a 20% discount when you rent a car from Apex.

2. Refer to the listener’s request or order specifically

Lacks you-attitude: Your order……

You-Attitude The desk chair you ordered….

3. Don’t talk about your own feelings unless you are sure the listener wants to know how you feel

Lacks you-attitude: We are happy to extend you a credit line of $5000

You-Attitude You can now charge up to $5000 on your American

Express Card

4. Don’t presume that you know how the listener feels or will react

Lacks you-attitude: You’ll be happy to hear your scholarship has been renewed.

You-Attitude: Congratulations! Your scholarship has been renewed.

5. In negative situations, avoid the word you. Protect the reader’s ego. Use impersonal expressions and passive verbs to avoid assigning blame.

Lacks you-attitude: You must get approval from the Director before you publish any articles based on your work in the agency

You-Attitude: Agency personnel must get approval from the Director to publish any articles based on their work in the agency

USEFUL PHRASES FOR PRESENTATION

The Opening

Establishing Contact

a. “Good morning, everyone”

b. “Good morning. It’s good to see you all here”

c. “Good morning. I’d like to welcome you all to …”

Stating your credentials

a. “As you know, I’ve been working on …/my job is in … “

b. “As you may know, I have been looking into …/I have responsibility for …/I am …”

c. “I’d like to begin by introducing myself”

d. “May I begin by telling you something of myself”

e. “Before we begin, let me introduce myself”