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Do you “check up” on your staff or “check in” with each member? Do you try to “fix” your employees or help “develop” their skills to be more successful? Your choice of words is neither semantics nor idle wordplay. It’s about effective leadership and success through language. It’s imperative that today’s leaders realize the language of leadership influences what occurs within their organizations. Leaders have the ability to change their organizations by changing their language. The words we use can “make or break” relationships with employees. Carefully crafted messages go a long way in personal and organizational success. Today’s workforce wants more choice, creative license, and autonomy. They don’t want to be “micromanaged.” Micromanaging is one example of leaders using 20th century “command and control” language for a 21st century mindset and workforce. Leaders too often use language that is riddled with militaristic or hierarchical metaphors, such as, “Let’s gather the troops to nail down the schedule for the year” or worse, an edict, “I am going to nail the schedule down and post it.” Not only can this language incite a fear-based culture, it also works against what leaders say they are striving for — to be more collaborative and engaging. The problem is you wouldn’t know this from some leaders’ language. Here are six suggestions to convey messages more powerfully and positively: 1. Slow down. Become conscious that your language and intent may not be aligned. If it’s team building you’re after, use “empowering” language rather than “overpowering” words. 2. Expunge absolutes. Avoid using “always” and “never” when communicating with others, especially when giving feedback. 3. Balance yourself. Weigh your need to “drive” change against words that actually “inspire” change. 4. Ask, don’t tell. Use inquiry more than advocacy when you coach and problem-solve with your employees. 5. Be clear in your requests of others. Include specific actions as well as time and date needed. 6. Reframe how you think about change. Think about this: We fix cars and planes; we don’t fix people. Choose your words wisely. And, definitely, avoid “quick fixes.” Language plays a primary role in how well we lead. In order to change our language, we must slow down and be aware of what we say and notice the influence and impact our words have. Start by noticing now: What are the words you lead by? |
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Language sets the tone
Susan J. Bethanis, EdD, is the founder and CEO of Mariposa Leadership, Inc., a 12-person San Francisco-based leadership coaching firm in its 10th year. She is the author of Leadership Chronicles of a Corporate Sage (Kaplan Publishing, 2004.) She can be contacted at