Mastery: Strategies and Skills

Great communicators recognize that they are their own best instruments, and know how to control and use this instrument. We don't get to control the audience, the article resulting from the interview, or the market response. We master only ourselves, moment by moment.

Mastery refers to the skills and strategies we use to accomplish our communication goals. Mastery is achieved by expanding the number of communication strategies available to us. The goal of a master communicator is always to create more choice and greater flexibility. Choice means that we are not held hostage to one habitual way of responding.

Mastery has several components: Content, Control, Congruence, Timing and Context. Each of these involves a skill that is learnable. Your story doesn't tell itself -- it needs you to bring it to life. The strategies and skills you use to convey your story will determine both its impact and its longevity in the memory of your audience.