The 3 Wise Monkey Test for Business Communication

You probably know the 3 wise monkeys.

• See no evil
• Hear no evil
• Speak no evil

You may see a shuffle in the order of the monkeys.

And there are varying interpretations on the meaning.

• The western world leans toward a meaning of looking the other way
• You see evil – you hear evil, but you don’t speak up
• Eastern cultures interpret the meaning as refraining from evil
• Japan adds a fourth monkey with crossed arms – do no evil

Whether your business communication is verbal or written, a positive spin endures.

Check your business communication with the 3 Wise Monkey test.

See No Evil

There are all forms of evil in business communication.

• False promises
• Negative tones
• Misleading details

Those are the do onto others evil.

There is also evil you inflict on yourself.

• Lack of preparation
• Poorly written communication
• Lack of editing (verbal or written)

Perfect your business communication until you see no evil.

Hear No Evil

Don’t believe everything you hear. 

Today, much of what we “hear” is on the internet. Good business communication verifies before sharing.

• Check facts
• Credit sources
• Understand statistics

Have you seen the State Farm commercial of a woman telling her friend, They can’t put it on the internet if it’s not true? Funny stuff, right?

Don’t perpetuate myths – yours or someone else’s.

Verify so readers hear no evil misinformation.

Speak No Evil

An observation from a past mentor has always stuck with me.

“When you slam the competition, it just shows your product cannot stand up on its own merit.”

That kind of communication typically backfires. Makes a customer wonder what they’re missing on the other side.

When you believe in your business – others will, too.

• Speak about your business
• Listen before you speak
• Stand behind your commitments

Speak no evil and your business will stand out.

Monkey Business

Run your business communication through the 3 Wise Monkey test.

When speaking or writing, ensure that you ~

• See no evil
• Hear no evil
• Speak no evil

Now, that’s what I call a positive return.

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