#65: Leaders choose words carefully

Last week I suggested that leaders, by making their intentions clear, don’t waste their followers’ time.

We know that we lead by example, but we cannot do that with intentions. Until acted on, intentions remain unfulfilled objectives. Words are the next best thing to express our intentions.

However, words can be ambiguous, assuming a different meaning in the mind of the listener. For example, what does ‘bi-monthly’ mean? ‘Twice every month’ or ‘every second month’?

Wise leaders are deliberate in their use of language. They choose words carefully, selecting specific words for the exact meaning they wish to communicate.

The problem is that we have allowed slang, and our innate human laziness, to shrink our vocabulary. And so the gap of mis-understanding is increasing between what the wise are saying and what we are hearing. And as we become tone-deaf, intentions remain unfulfilled.


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
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