In leadership and performance, our use of language for what we’re moving towards, and who we’re becoming, is critical.
At some point in our developmental journey, we may realise the power and effectiveness of making our language “softer”*.
Not out of fear, avoidance, weakness, or because we don’t have the energy or conviction anymore, but to increase accessibility and the chance of engagement with the ideas we want to communicate.
Likening a communicated idea to a product for sale in a marketplace, it’s about making sure the venue’s gates are wide open to allow access, and that the goods can be inspected in the way buyers need, in order to decide.
If we recognise the ultimate purpose of communication is action, our language therefore wants to facilitate action—not unintentionally keep us in more language and more thinking. To move into action, we first need to know the idea, and to know the idea we first need to be able to access it as intended.
Another key part of effective language is clarity.
This is using language that points to, and effectively conveys, our truth.
In leadership and performance this is critical because that truth is our consistency. It’s who we currently are. And it’s what we, and the people we want to move with, need in order to buy in – or not.
Clarity is for reliability.
Clarity is for trust.
So this could be like the products in the marketplace having clear price tags. We know what’s being offered and what’s required to take it up.
One of the risks with these two qualities – accessibility and clarity – is that, in trying to optimise one, we unintentionally reduce the other.
I might soften my language, or make it extremely precise, to optimise for reception or accuracy, but in doing so I unintentionally dilute clarity.
Similarly, in trying to be as simple and clear as possible, an idea might feel too abrupt, causing reactivity or misunderstanding in the receiver.
Leading to inaction.
We can ask ourselves: Am I reducing resistance, or am I reducing clarity?
And we can remind ourselves: Speak from conviction, deliver it with humility.
Well, that’s what this kid told me, anyway.