COMMUNICATION NINJA MAXWELL

 COMMUNICATION NINJA MAXWELL

 

Maxwell sat aloof in the university hall, his clear eyes reflecting a glint of wisdom. A cacophony of chatter and laughter filled the air as students sat huddled in groups, discussing their projects and assignments and sharing anecdotal tales. Maxwell was happy to sit quietly and listen to the conversation around him as he toyed with a glass of salted buttermilk.

 

“Hey, Max!” called out Sarah, a lovable, bubbly communications honours student who liked Maxwell’s aloof, quiet demeanour. “Come join us. We’re talking about this tricky communications theory assignment. How to be an authentic speaker?”

 

Maxwell hesitated, then slowly joined the group. He knew he could help: they discussed a topic he had mastered years ago. However, he was always careful not to give unsolicited advice and preferred to keep his abilities under wraps.

 

Sarah turned to him. “We are stuck on this. Any suggestions?”

 

Maxwell took a sip of the buttermilk, paused momentarily and then said. “Well,” he began slowly, “Before you can move your audience with your words, you must first win them over with your character. You can do this in three ways: focus on connection, develop credibility, and pursue constant learning.”

 

Sarah’s eyes lit up. “That’s great. Do you have any additional tips?”

Maxwell took a deep breath before continuing, “Ensure your message matches your true beliefs, support your words with your actions, and develop the necessary expertise to speak about your subject.”

 

Another eager student, Roy, said, “Yeah, but how can I effectively deliver a message?”

 

Maxwell nodded, “Simplify your ideas to be clear, concise, and memorable. This is especially true when explaining a complex topic like economics or politics. Always remember what Albert Einstien famously said: “If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.”

 

Roy looked a bit flustered, filled with the curse of knowledge. “That makes sense. But what should be the ultimate goal of communication?”

 

“Good question,” Maxwell replied, trying to sound casual. “The ultimate goal of communication is for your audience to take action after hearing your message. You can also do this in three ways. Tell personal stories, help your audience visualise the positive change and show them the first steps.”

 

The group fell silent for a moment, absorbing Maxwell’s insights. Another enthusiastic young girl, Rose, turned to him and said, “And what if my communication attempts fail?”

 

Maxwell took a long sip of the salted butter milk before replying. “Well, if your attempts at communicating fail, don’t blame your audience; blame yourself. You haven’t conveyed the message correctly and at the right time. You should leave your ego at the door.”

 

At this point, another bright young communications primary student, Tapash, spoke up. “But tell me, how do you communicate like James Bond?”

 

“Well, there are 7Cs to communicate, like 007. They are clear, concise, concrete, correct, considerate of the speaker, complete, and courteous. That’s all that you need to speak like 007.”

 

Sarah gave him an appraising look. “Max, you should talk more in class and meetings. You are a natural at this.”

 

Maxwell shifted uncomfortably, “I just like to listen and learn,” he said, smiling modestly. “Besides, everyone has their perspectives and opinions.”

 

Sarah wasn’t convinced but decided to let it go.” Well, thanks for the help. You are a communications wizard.”

 

Maxwell chuckled softly. “Happy to serve”.

 

As the conversation shifted to other topics, Maxwell leaned back in his chair, content with his small contribution. He had just shared the tip of the iceberg without revealing the depth of his expertise. For now, he preferred to remain the unassuming observer, knowing that his true abilities would come to the fore when it mattered the most.