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Oral Communication · Chapter 1

Say It So It Lands

Every message carries a content dimension and a relational one, and when they conflict listeners believe the relationship. Take a sentence whose facts are perfectly correct and apply the three moves one at a time. Watch the content stay intact while what the other person hears changes completely — then switch to Repair mode and clean up a sentence you cannot take back.
Pick a situation
Apply the moves
What was said
Your revision
What the other person hears
Content preserved
Relationship protected

Why each move works