Communication is a major issue facing most organisations and businesses – and most couples, too!  How do we get our message across?  How close is our intention in sending a message to the recipient’s reception of what we meant?  The way the message is delivered and the receiver’s ability to listen play a part. But there will always be gaps and we automatically fill those gaps with what we thought the person said or what we thought the message intended.  

So, the bigger the gap, the more we add our own interpretation, filling the gap with what we thought the person said.  And this further complicates our understanding of the intended message.  This applies whether we are speaking to one person, addressing a meeting or mailing our customers. 

Recently the delightful song ‘What did the fox say?’ has escalated to great popularity.  It is fun trying the dance moves, too!  The message fascinates me. (Please scroll down to the end of the article to read the words.)  Not only does Ylvis ask:  ‘What does the fox say?’, but what do all the animals say?  And near the end of the song, the question is ‘What is your sound’?  It may seem trivial, but that is a powerful question.  And this links to a book which has been a great inspiration in my Executive Coaching work:  ‘You are what you say’ by Matthew Budd and Larry Rothstein.   The subtitle is:  ‘The Proven Program That Uses the Power of Language to Combat Stress, Anger, and Depression.’  I highly recommend this book.

As I left the November business lunch at the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business having heard a range of messages during the talks, I noticed a colleague intently engrossed in a conversation with one of the resident donkeys.  Ylvis might ask – ‘what does the donkey say’?  and also ‘What does Olivia say’?  What are their sounds?  

And what is your sound?  This is a provocative question and takes a great deal of reflection.  When coaching I add even greater depth to this question by asking my clients if they were to choose one piece of music as a metaphor for who they really are, what would that music be? 

 So, let me ask the question again:  ‘What is your sound’?   

For more information on Executive Coaching or Keynote Speaking please contact Brenda on brenda@146.66.90.172 or +27 82 4993311. 

Lyrics:  What does the fox say?

Dog goes woof
Cat goes meow
Bird goes tweet
and mouse goes squeek

Cow goes moo
Frog goes croak
and the elephant goes toot

Ducks say quack
and fish go blub
and the seal goes ow ow ow ow ow

But theres one sound
That no one knows
What does the fox say?

Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!
Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!
Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!
What the fox say?

Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow!
Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow!
Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow!
What the fox say?

Hatee-hatee-hatee-ho!
Hatee-hatee-hatee-ho!
Hatee-hatee-hatee-ho!
What the fox say?

Joff-tchoff-tchoffo-tchoffo-tchoff!
Tchoff-tchoff-tchoffo-tchoffo-tchoff!
Joff-tchoff-tchoffo-tchoffo-tchoff!
What the fox say?

Big blue eyes
Pointy nose
Chasing mice
and digging holes

Tiny paws
Up the hill
Suddenly youre standing still

Your fur is red
So beautiful
Like an angel in disguise

But if you meet
a friendly horse
Will you communicate by
mo-o-o-o-orse?
mo-o-o-o-orse?
mo-o-o-o-orse?

How will you speak to that
ho-o-o-o-orse?
ho-o-o-o-orse?
ho-o-o-o-orse?
What does the fox say?

Jacha-chacha-chacha-chow!
Chacha-chacha-chacha-chow!
Chacha-chacha-chacha-chow!
What the fox say?

Fraka-kaka-kaka-kaka-kow!
Fraka-kaka-kaka-kaka-kow!
Fraka-kaka-kaka-kaka-kow!
What the fox say?

A-hee-ahee ha-hee!
A-hee-ahee ha-hee!
A-hee-ahee ha-hee!
What the fox say?

A-oo-oo-oo-ooo!
Woo-oo-oo-ooo!
What does the fox say?

The secret of the fox
Ancient mystery
Somewhere deep in the woods
I know youre hiding
What is your sound?
Will we ever know?
Will always be a mystery
What do you say?

Youre my guardian angel
Hiding in the woods
What is your sound?

(Fox Sings)
Wa-wa-way-do Wub-wid-bid-dum-way-do Wa-wa-way-do

Will we ever know?

(Fox Sings)
Bay-budabud-dum-bam

I want to

(Fox sings)
Mama-dum-day-do

I want to
I want to know!

(Fox sings)
Abay-ba-da bum-bum bay-do

Read more: Ylvis - The Fox Lyrics | MetroLyrics