Words matter in the world of leadership and change.

Every day people in leadership and management positions speak and share at the individual, group and whole company levels. What they say and how they say something is routinely discussed, explored and interpreted over and over by all involved. 

Sometimes the result of all this communication is clarity and other days it is confusion. Most days, the listeners pick and choose the parts of the message they like, and then dump the rest.

As an executive coach, I am constantly asking leaders to define their message and then strongly encouraging them to stay on-message. Some leaders will work a theme or message for three to six months. Others will change their core messages every sixty to ninety days. There is no one right way as to how long to stay on message. The key is to have a message that can be shared broadly with many different people and then to stick to sending it and sharing it. By the time, you as the leader are feeling like you’re a broken record, constantly repeating yourself over and over, I will assure you that people are finally just beginning to hear you for the first time.

Therefore, I ask clients to make sure the message they are sending is clear and concise. I also remind them that the listener should not need a dictionary or a United Nations interpreter to understand what you are saying. If we need to spend hours focused on understanding the message, then more likely the message will end up in the dust bin of communication, namely just one more piece of information that does not make sense and is an obstacle to getting through today and on to the next thing on the ever growing list of things that must get done.

The best leaders get this. They choose their words and their examples carefully. They want clarity to translate into unified action and positive results.

This week sit down and think through your message. Remember - words matter.

Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

When working through an extended trough of chaos, many leaders are focused on getting lots of things done. They want order and predictability to be once again the norm. They are very conscious that cash flow can make or break an organization so they are constantly focused on the financial health of the organization. As they race from meeting to meeting, the goal often is to get all of the things that are creating the feeling of chaos back under control. The difficulty is that many leaders forget a simple truth in their rush to get this done, namely that actions speak louder than words.

Every day people listen to what leaders say. They try hard to discern what is the message being sent. They interpret everything as either positive or negative. And for the most part, they define things as negative during the trough of chaos. If the leader is feeling overwhelmed in the tough of chaos, the follower is feeling lost and has no idea what or why this is all happening.

Here is where the best leaders step up to the challenges before. They understand that not everyone is going to hear directly from them. Therefore, they focus on making sure their message to the organization is clear, concise and can be easily cascaded down into the organization. They focus on core themes and recognize that it may take time for people to understand all that is being communicated.

They also are extremely thoughtful in their actions. In particular, they always conduct themselves with the utmost integrity. This means treating everyone, from the maintenance and the house cleaning staff to an SVP or a member of the board with dignity and respect. Being courteous and kind is not a show but a reflection of character and clarity. They recognize that role modeling integrity is vital to helping everyone move forward together.

This week, define the core themes you are going to talk about during the next 90 days as you move through your extended trough of chaos. And then role model clarity, respect and integrity with every fiber of your being. Do not slip up because actions always speak louder than words. 

Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257

The Lexicon of Leadership

In the world of leadership and management, words matter. When I teach the From Vision to Action Leadership Training, I tell participants that the words from a leader are as powerful as individual actions. While not everyone can interact with a person in a leadership position, they can and will hear about what you say, and how you say it.

As Krista Tippett wrote in her book, Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living, Penguin Press, 2016: “I take it as an elemental truth of life that words matter. This is so plain that we can ignore it a thousand times a day. The words we use shape how we understand ourselves, how we interpret the world, how we treat others. From Genesis to the aboriginal songlines of Australia, human beings have forever perceived that naming brings the essence of things into being. The ancient rabbis understood books, texts, the very letters of certain words as living, breathing entities. Words make worlds.”

This is a profound and important truth. In the world of leadership and organizational change, words make worlds, because they have the power to shape perception, clarity and perspective.

However in the world of leadership right now, too many people are thinking out loud and not being careful about what they say and how they say it. They forget the old Chinese saying that “the fastest horse can not catch the word once spoken.”

This summer I will be writing about the power and importance of words. In particular, I will be exploring common words that leaders use every day, often with little thought. But for starts, let us remember these important statements:

- Words matter.

- Words shape understanding.

- Words create clarity.

- Words make worlds. 

This week, think carefully before you start speaking. It is one of the defining characteristics of great leaders.

Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257

Leadership and Communication

Every week, I spend time with leaders discussing communication and communication related problems. Be it in a one to one executive coaching session, or group meeting, I guarantee you that the subject of leadership and communications will surface during our time together. After much reflection, I have come to the conclusion that the more we communicate as leaders, the less we understand.

During the first session of the From Vision to Action Leadership Training, I ask the group to read the following article: “The Leader of the Future” by William C. Taylor, Fast Company magazine - June 1999. In it, Ron Heiftz states, “leaders die with their mouths open.” This spring I have seen more leaders with their mouths open and their brains on overload.

Here is an exercise to see whether or not this is happening to you. On one side of a 3x5 card, write down what is most important about your entire company. On the other side, write down what is most important about what you do. 

Many people when confronted with this exercise just sit and stare at the 3x5 card, wondering what to write. Others quickly want a bigger card. Some write paragraphs of information in tiny handwriting. They key is to have an answer that is clear and concise.

After you have done this exercise yourself, then ask the following two questions during your next five coaching sessions:

- What do you do?

- What do you do that matters the most?

Your answers on the 3x5 card and their answers should have some degree of alignment if you hope to be successful during the coming 18-24 months. Otherwise, key information is not understood and not getting passed along to others clearly.

Another thing that is important in the world of leadership and communication is the ability to listen and to understand before being understood. Stephen Covey told us this years ago and some leaders are still practicing it. In order to improve communications this spring, seek input from different people and value different perspectives. Authentic listening is a powerful form of communication.

Next, realize the difference between words and actions. On one hand, words are about talking and the other is about doing. But the difficulty for many young leaders and many people new to the world of leadership, particularly senior leadership, is for them to realize that Words = Actions. Words convey commitments and thus equal actions when you become a leader. Furthermore, actions may only be seen by a few people in a large company, but words are heard and can impact many people in a large company.

This week be more mindful when you are listening and more aware that when you lead, your words are part of your actions.

Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257