“Can I Get A Discount On My Nasi Lemak?” Tips to Charm, Convince and Captivate Your Day-to-Day Communication Settings

Most of us may think of formal settings when we think of public speaking – a dashing suit, coiffed hair, a huge stage before a live audience. For the most part, rather, we use communication skills in our day-to-day setting, be it at work or at home. Of course, some of you may have been lured by the article title with the hope of getting a discount on your neighbourhood nasi lemak or cai fan! While we will not be able to guarantee you that success, we wanted to share the common communication skills you can apply on a day-to-day basis.

Our day-to-day communication scenarios can be fluid and volatile. These scenarios, however, provide you with ample opportunities to practice underlying skills such as persuasion or negotiation. Even for something as menial as ordering your favourite dish from your go-to hawker centre, there is room for you to use communication skills to get that slight edge. While these techniques do not guarantee success, they will place you in better stead to manage your informal or casual communication settings.

Here are the three communication techniques you can keep in mind!

Technique #1: Know Your Materials

We know – you may be thinking that preparation or materials are unnecessary, especially for something as straightforward as a day-to-day conversation. Of course, we are not talking about a research paper on the constituent ingredients in your plate of nasi lemak. Instead, it is important to avoid complacency, especially in such informal/casual communication settings. You want to avoid getting caught out not knowing your facts or materials.

How can we prepare then? The level of preparation depends on the context of your communication scenario. A casual sharing of information in a conversation (e.g., among friends or during networking sessions) may require you to go beyond just that one article or quote you read. For a more persuasive scenario, precedents or other analogous examples may be useful. Think of the last time you have bargained for something before, and you may have just used this tactic before (“The other shop across the street is selling it for half the price!”). Using analogous examples can go a long way in helping you get that discount!

Technique #2: Create Empathy, not Envy

We believe that one of the elements of a charismatic delivery is to have your audience rooting for you. You want them to feel your predicament and remain engaged to your sharing. In a casual setting, empathy is a strong way to create a connection with your audience. They should feel excited and willing to continue with the conversation or setting.

Creating empathy is twofold. First, you need to listen and acknowledge the unique background circumstances of your communication partners. This is especially important in a casual communication setting (which may just be you and another communication partner). Make them feel like they are at the centre of your attention. Second, highlight the challenges or difficulties you may face to appeal to your communication partners. A sincere and open sharing may go a long way compared to a guarded and reserved sharing in a communication setting.

Technique #3: Aim for Quality, not Quantity

Finally, what should you do if you really, really want that discount for your nasi lemak? Ask for it! In a casual communication setting, it is more efficient and effective to be precise in your request. While this does not necessarily mean that your request will be acceded to, it would put you in a better position than having to rely on the other party to ‘read between the lines’. We have seen the successful ‘negotiators’ at our regular coffee-shops/hawker centres arguing for a better price (“How about you give me a discount since I ordered so many meat dishes?”) – learn from these masters of day-to-day communication!

While a casual communication setting is not the same as your formal scenarios (e.g., negotiations, business meetings, speech presentations), one common persuasion tool you may try is to create a persuasive package. Instead of just stating your request, add a precise reason as to why the other party should agree with your request. Be willing to listen and adjust accordingly (again, depending on the context – you won’t want to be arguing with your coffee-shop uncle/auntie for hours on end!). Jokes aside, we tend to forget that a casual communication setting still requires you to be clear and specific on the points/messages you are putting across. Try and keep that same focus for your next day-to-day communication scenario!

“Can I get a Discount?”

While the tips above may not necessarily get you a discounted plate of nasi lemak, they serve as a powerful framework you can adopt to practise and perfect underlying communication skills. Beyond this, your day-to-day communication scenarios are safe spaces to make mistakes before you try your communication techniques in high-stakes scenarios. The next time you are ordering your favourite dish from your hawker centre or coffee shop, why not try your hand at some of these tips? You may just end up with that extra egg or dish!

By The Way…

If you’re keen to take your public speaking skills & presentation skills (either business/corporate presentation / training for presentation to clients / kids in-class presentation) to the next level so that you may communicate and deliver speeches with greater flair and charisma, feel free to check out our public speaking courses for adults and kids below!

For more about our Public Speaking Courses for Adults :

https://publicspeakingacademy.com.sg/courses-and-programs/group-classes-for-adults/

If you’re also looking for Public Speaking Course for Kids / Children:

https://publicspeakingacademy.com.sg/group-classes-students-age-9-18/