When Words Carry High Stakes

By Lois Tuffin

The timbre in his voice told me everything I needed to know. He was scared and he needed help. While the situation was simple, the solution would be complex and needed just the right touch.

This man had been head-hunted and offered a job within a government controlled by a powerful individual. Hand-picked and wooed for four months, he now had the offer in his hands and he couldn’t live on the salary that was offered.

As a successful businessman, he had created a lifestyle that matched the income he had fostered by his wise decisions over the years.

How could he say no and not run afoul of the country’s leader? That was the conundrum.

A professional writer can handle delicate situations

After a short chat and a few notes, I reflected on what I had learned from dealing with clients from this same nation over the past year. Deference was key; respect was vital. Being direct was not the right approach for this situation so the necessary message was carefully crafted over the next hour.

Once the letter was emailed, he replied within nine minutes. It was exactly what he needed.

He had been so muddled by the political pressure that he simply couldn’t find the right words. Thankfully, he found me as an ally to help him. Ultimately, the message was received as an offer for him to help the government reach its goal – without him having to give up his livelihood and lifestyle.

We both sighed with relief.

Every nationality has its own undercurrent of language. If you’re doing business internationally, it helps to know someone with the insights to decode those quiet messages and position them so they land just the right way. It’s really rewarding when it works out well.

If you’re trying to hit the right note in Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, or any of the Americas, I can be your translator – especially when the stakes are high.