Words do two major things: They provide food for the mind and create light for understanding and awareness. – Jim Rohn
Listed on the Merriam-Webster website is the 2011: The Year in Words. The list reveals defining moments in politics, culture, sports and more that spiked lookups in words because of events in news.
A few examples include the words “prefecture” and “haboob.” “Prefecture” gained notoriety as a word back in March when reports from Japan about the devastating earthquake and tsunami focused on the prefectures that were most affected; an official term for a region or district.
“Haboob” was introduced into our vernacular back in July when a massive dust storm rolled through Phoenix, Az. In describing the mile-high billowing wave, many media reports referred to the storm as a “haboob”. The word comes from the Arabic habūb which means “violent storm.”
Confucius said, “Words are the voice of the heart.” In leadership, the words we use can either be instruments of good or instruments of bad and we must choose them wisely. If you were to have an inventory taken on the words you use in your business or organization, how do you think you would rate?
As you look to 2012 and the leadership vocabulary you will choose, allow me to make these following suggestions to help you set the tone for your organization. By using these three styles you can set the stage for an uplifting year.
Choose words that encourage. Elizabeth Harrison said, “Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who encourage more than criticize.” As a leader, the words you employ are either going to push your team onward and upward or at the very least is going to stall them.
By embracing a steady diet of encouraging words with your team you are setting the bar in how they communicate among themselves. Encouraging words will get you through a down economy, give you the energy to meet a challenging deadline, and the confidence needed to meet your goals. The difference maker can simply be the right word spoken at the right time. It takes no more energy to speak an encouraging word than it does to go negative. Be an encourager.
Choose words that engage. Words that encourage will get the attention of your team and endear you to them as a leader. Encouraging words touch their heart. Words that engage will challenge their minds.
Tom Kasten said, “You have to let people challenge your ideas.” And this is what good leaders do. While encouraging words motivate, engaging words create. They create new ideas, fresh thinking, and foster a culture of inclusion in the process. Reflect back on the use of your words with your team this past year. Have they brought about the desired change you intended?
Engaging your team with the right vocabulary can be one of the best moves you make in 2012. When given the chance, engage your team by invoking words that causes them to shake off the comforts of the past, and challenges them to a new level of excellence today. When your team is engaged they take ownership. Are you engaging them?
Choose words that equip. When team members in your organization are empowered to excel, they are empowered for success. In as much as they need to hear words that encourage and engage them, they need to hear words that equip them for the job.
John Maxwell wisely said, “It’s wonderful when the people believe in their leader; it’s more wonderful when the leader believes in the people.” And this is the secret to your leadership vocabulary – words that equip. When your people know that you believe in them and know they are empowered to do their job, the level of success they can achieve is limitless.
How about some honest assessment of your leadership vocabulary: Are your words encouraging? Are they engaging? Do they equip? At the heart of your leadership are your words. Speak wisely.
© 2011 Doug Dickerson
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