WordRules

Words are some of the most powerful tools/weapons we have at our disposal.  The impact of our words only intensifies as the size of the audience grows and/or as the level of our leadership authority increases.

Thus, some key guiding principles can have positive and immeasurable impact when we follow them:

• Words seem able to hurt FAR easier than they heal; use them negatively with extreme caution.
• Criticism never plays well (especially when uninvited).
• Apologies are extremely hard to carry off with authenticity and sincerity.
• Speak with brevity, speak with precision.
• Judiciously match tone and body language to the message (mixed signals are bad signals).
• Thought provoking questions are a most powerful use of words.
• Think first; pain, anger, confusion typically follow thoughtlessly delivered words.
• Listening well always trumps talking well.
• If in doubt, stop talking.

We make the world a better place when we wisely abide by these word rules.