Leadership Language: Should You Watch What You Say?

Leadership Language | Should You Watch What You Say?

Organisational leaders play an important role in the workplace structure, as words and phrases used by leaders have a significant impact on organisational personnel. At times, leaders struggle in managing his/her team because they fail to identify appropriate word choices in communication with employees. Despite having positional power, the lack of compelling authority jeopardizes their ability in leading his/her team. What organisational leaders say have a profound impact on their team’s morale and productivity. Employees respond positively to motivational and constructive language, and leaders should be aware and actively employ positive forms of language to foster an effective working environment.

For example, traditional forms of performance assessment involve one-sided, infrequent reviews of employees. Instead, assessment should be driven towards a more personalized direction, where the conversation is centered on helping the employee achieve specific career goals. By providing words of encouragement to those in need of it, organisational leaders increase the engagement level of employees, and instill confidence into the workplace. 

Keeping employees involved with organisational goals is an integral part in driving the organisation forward, and effective leadership language entices employee involvement. Leaders can utilize communication to create a connection between employees and the organisation, and include them into the ongoing itinerary of organisational goals. Leaders can highlight how employees’ work aligns with the organisation, to generate inclusiveness and to effectively manage workplace efficiency.

It must also be acknowledged that cultural differences play an important role in deciding how certain words and phrases are interpreted. Although employees might share basic workplace commonalities, different linguistic and cultural backgrounds might have differing ways of understanding the intended message. Organisational leaders have to commit an effort in dedicated communication with employees of varying backgrounds to understand the most effective way of management and cooperation.

Effective leadership language allows organisational leaders to facilitate employee management, and increase the efficacy of the workplace as organisational personnel feel involved and appreciated. Included below are excerpts from interesting articles which highlight the importance of effective leadership language, and how that translates into a positive effect on the workplace. 

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“Despite these commonalities, it is still important to remember cultural differences that might impact the way your words are interpreted. Richard Stevenson, head of corporate communications at cloud-based ecommerce platform ePages.com, noted that having a clear, universal sense of mission is essential, but international staffers may expect and value differing styles of communication.

"I find that American and British talent thrive on very open and personalized feedback and an emphasis on development needs, while central European staff tend to relax more when there's a structure to feedback, numeric inputs and reference to agreed goals and KPIs," Stevenson told Business News Daily. "Be prepared to wear different hats day-to-day and do experiment in order to bring out the best in each of them."

Philpot reminded leaders that motivating employees takes dedication and time. A one-off message of encouragement or the occasional "pat on the back" won't be enough; you need to keep working at it and refining your message, she said.

"It can be like tossing a balloon into the air — with time, it is bound to descend," Philpot said. "Sincerity, repetition and consistency of communication over time is what really makes the difference." - Nicole Fallon Taylor, Managing Director at Business News Daily

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“Language is an important component of leadership. The words (and tone) that a leader uses in conversations with team members or peers are often a direct reflection of the individual’s leadership style. I remember a colleague who regularly used the term “relentless” in her discussions with others. And relentless she was: unyielding, tough and stubborn. By talking the talk as frequently as she did, she eventually walked the walk. 

We know that exceptional leaders are the key element in creating great workplaces. The quality of employee’s day-to-day work experience shapes satisfaction and engagement more than any other factor. Even the best and most innovative programs or benefits can’t compensate for a poor leader.

Certain words – such as the “-isms” - can quickly become anchored into our everyday language. You may not even be aware of some harsh, complex or confusing words that you frequently speak. However, you are surrounded by the very best “language auditors” you can find - your own team. Ask your staff (either individually or as a group) to point out these words and terms as they arise. Then work to change them, with emphasis on simplification and clarity. Big words aren’t always better words. A great leader always strives to connect with staff and in the process, conveys his or her belief that success can’t happen without each other.” - Lillian J. LeBlanc, Executive Leadership Development Coach at Baptist Health South Florida

Image Source: huffingtonpost.ca