We lead in language

As humans, we are never not in language – we speak, listen, think and act in language.

As a leader, your language is never innocent; there’s intention in everything you say. So your language has a greater intentional impact, here are 3 things to help you:

1. To W.A.I.T. – always ask yourself, Why.Am.I.Talking? We talk for two reasons: to be understood or to understand. Be clear about your intention.

2. Listen to – so others feel listened to by you, respond to their opinions with, ‘yes and…’ ‘Yes but….’ is laden with dissent.

3. ‘I’ vs ‘you’ – notice how often you use “I or my” vs “you and your”. Adopt a 1:3 ratio of I:You.

CHALLENGE

At the next team meeting, be mindful of your language and commit to:

• Understand others more than try to be understood by others

• Respond to others’ ideas and opinions with, ‘yes and…’

• Say ‘you’ three times more than you say ‘I’.

As a leader, your intentions never lie.

May you flourish.