Leadership and the Power of Your Words

As a leader, much of your work revolves around communication. It should be so simple …. You know what we want to convey, so what is the problem? Your words have unbelievable power, and sadly often people do not understand the powerful outcome their communication make. They say something to a person with whom they are frustrated and send a blistering email. Often the person on the receiving end are traumatized by the message and it affects their work from that point forward. Instead of creating an opportunity for feedback, it becomes a barrier to productivity. From that point forward the individual will question what they say and may tell the person what they want to hear not what they need to hear to make responsible decisions. It transforms the relationship and not in a positive way. That is, however, if you master Words become a vehicle of transformation or a means to harm, and this will make a huge difference in the quality of your relationships. your ability to use your words in way that meets your goals and the goals of others. The problem, and there are many, is that we assume that all people view language the same way and do not pay attention to the emotions that drive your communication.

Many of the issues in relationships and communication come when we do not understand some of the ways communication is influenced. Let’s take a look at why so much miscommunication takes place.

1. The truth is the meaning of words lie in people, not the words themselves. Have you ever given someone instructions, thought they understood but the outcome did not reflect your picture? All people determine what a word means by our prior experience. That is why so many people end up with different meanings to the same word. Don’t tell someone you need something as soon as possible without giving them a time. By using more clarity in the initial directions, you can circumvent problems that may occur when people don’t understand. This will minimize your frustration that may occur due to miscommunication.
2. Perceptions become reality: If you have a difficult experience with a person and they come to believe that you are against them, everything you do from that point on the person may put a negative spin to it. It is important that you speak with the individual and give them clear expectations then ask questions for clarity. Create ways for two-way communication and opportunities for support. Create an experience for the employee to understand that it is safe to ask for help but your behaviors must support that notion. If you yell or berate an employee, he or she will quickly learn to be quiet and not share when they are running into problems and the ripple effect will create chaos in your organization.
3. Word Venom: People who receive those negative messages will hold them in their consciousness and it will influence how they interact with everyone in the workplace. Les Brown said it takes 17 positive comments to undo the damage done by one negative comment. With this in mind, it makes sense not to interact in a reactive state and think through what you are trying to accomplish and whether or not your approach will get you there.

To create a culture in which open and honest communication takes place it is imperative that positive communication is modeled from the top. Spend time thinking about the culture you are trying to achieve then craft your message to meet that result. With a little focus on your language you can improve your relationships and this will affect the productivity and profitability of your organization.