The Words of a Leader Matter – Even The Simple Sayings
The words of a leader matter. Think hard before blindly voicing some common English idioms and simple sayings.
Idioms, phrases, and sayings can be fun, sound exciting, or even powerful in speeches. They can be inspiring when used in the correct context. However, if not careful, they can be hurtful and disempowering when directed at others under your leadership or influence. Your body language and tone of voice can magnify the impact.
As a child, I would say “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can do me no harm.” Well, I learned that was not true. Words can carry significant destructive power and can cause long-lasting emotional damage.
“The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry” (Prov 25:11 MSG).
Think hard before blindly voicing the following common English idioms.
Choose Your Words Wisely
- Pull up your bootstraps! That means to straighten up and tough it out. It sounds like good tough love, but do you know if I even have boots? That is, am I empowered to do what you expect? Was I sufficiently trained? Do I have the necessary resources? If I had no boots (empowerment to do the task), there would be no bootstraps to tie, and I would have been positioned to fail.
- Takeaway: Understand the situation and the individual before using tough love, and know when to be compassionate.
- Forgive and forget. Only if you want me to repeat the same mistake. We should forgive and not hold a grudge. Encourage me to learn from negative situations and develop plans to avoid the same mistakes.
- Takeaway: Encourage the individual to take the time to convert bad experiences into lessons learned.
- Don’t fix it If it isn’t broken. In other words, don’t work on it if it’s working fine. That would be true if you didn’t believe in continuous improvement. Leaders should foster a culture of continuously improving key metrics such as reliability, efficiency, quality, and costs.
- Takeaway: Encourage continuous improvement. Leaders and organizations who do not change get left behind.
- Sorry to be blunt, but I’m just being honest. Blunt and honesty are two different things. Blunt means rough, uncompromisingly frank, and can cause pain. “Honest” means truthful. You should always be truthful. You should try not to be blunt.
- Takeaway: Leaders should endeavor to be honest and compassionate versus honest and blunt.
- It’s not rocket science. That may be true. However, making me feel stupid does more harm than good whether “it” is especially complex, or basic math. A wise mentor once told me “everything is easier when you know how to do it.”
- Takeaway: Leaders should be more empathetic and reframe the comment into a question: “I know it’s difficult for you and many others, but would you mind if I simplify it for you?”
These are nice English sayings. What they have in common is they can all have negative consequences if a leader uses them without considering the potential impact. So, before telling me to “buckle up”, check to confirm I have what it takes to buckle up! And make sure your words don’t inadvertently tear down but inspire, motivate, and build up.
Empowered Leader Reflection
What sayings have you used that you should have thought twice before using?
Your turn. We would welcome you adding to the conversation. Would you leave a comment below?
