Language matters.
Spoken language is the most powerful communication tool used to enable teams, cultures and companies. Time and time again we see great leaders investing time and grappling with the message. They understand that spoken words, capture the imagination, excite, inspire, ignite action and raise spirits.
Language matters!
Great teams, great cultures have their own shorthand, or code. This insider language enables the community clarity, tempo and can be the beacon; point the way and explain why; “Partner or Perish, Book a sale, Save a Buck; or Customers visit for only 1 of 2 reasons” all might be axioms in our culture. Peter Drucker is one of the best-known and most widely influential thinkers and writers on the subject of management theory and practice.
His writings have predicted many of the major developments of the late twentieth century, including privatization and decentralization; the rise of Japan to economic world power; the decisive importance of marketing; and the emergence of the information society with its necessity of lifelong learning. In 1959, Drucker coined the term “knowledge worker.” Drucker believed that every Team deserves a competent leader.
Good leaders are visible, present, courageous and engaged.
Language matters! In Teamwork and in culture remember the Three Cs: character, competence and chemistry. Bill Hybel’s talks of these traits in his text “Axiom”; Character is a truth teller, a covenant keeper, relationship manager and a person who credits others with the success. Competence includes our responsibility to recruit, test and train others to be the best. A team’s chemistry comes from its leaders; we must be the DNA carriers. Language Matters, take the time to explain. Leaders must carry the genetic material of the culture; carriers get people on the same page. They take the time to share why this is important, why others care about it. It’s the leader’s chemistry that provides the fire for the organizational engine. With Character, competence and chemistry having the right people at the table makes us all better.
In today’s digital age, Meta-communication or metadata matters.
Meta-communication is the information transmitted around the words. It’s the tone, facial expression; it’s situational and involves both the sender and receiver. In communication, information is transmitted from between and receiver. Both interpret the information they receive and control the information they give . Much information in communication is implicit and not expressed in words. It is “embedded” in the situation, in which the communication takes place. Communication and teams need to be passionate. Great teams, great cultures welcome passionate discussions. They also know how to disagree without drawing blood. Disagreements are welcomed within the room; post meeting meetings are out of bounds and indicate an immaturity and a lack of trust.
Language does matter and committing to address issues and resolving them as soon as possible. Great teams, great cultures are not error or conflict free, they are ridiculously committed to bad news first and keeping short accounts.
Consider these points-with the next text, email or tweet, Language Matters.
All the runners in a race compete. Only one wins. Lets run to Win!
Leave a Reply