Language matters. It truly does.
As you visualize leading your team into 2023, what are some of the dreams for your company that have been fermenting in that brain of yours?
Increase employee retention? Brainstorm a new product? Target a new client demographic? Create a more inclusive company culture?
Take some time in the next few weeks to sit down and thoughtfully craft language and even buzzwords around your organizational goals because language matters and words can be a powerful tool for good and evil. Your language framework needs to be intentional, consistent and contagious.
As an example, if you want to increase employee retention, you could come up with shared language around how each team member contributes meaningfully to the collective work.
You might start by using buzzwords like collaborate, caring, fun, meaningful, purpose, community when talking with and about your team.
Maybe incorporate phrases like “it takes a village” or “that’s why you are in charge of that, not me” to celebrate contributions.
Use team meetings to talk about creating emotional safety and belonging at work.
Sit down together as a team, review company values and allow comments and even edits, if needed.
Over time, this language absorbs into the team dynamic and the team leans organically into these new imaginations and creates a powerful sense of shared language and belonging, which keeps people in place and empowered to effect change within rather than having to move on. Acknowledging the power of words is a game changer.
I was talking with a family member who had recently moved into the non-profit space and was enjoying the shared mission of her role and team but there were also leadership dynamics at play that made things seem a bit unstable. When a job offer came in from her previous corporate line of work, she initially told me she was going to accept it. I caught up with her the other day and asked how that situation panned out and she ultimately decided to stay put because she couldn’t imagine not being with this particular team on this particular mission. Even though it is imperfect, she loves her job. I'm guessing someone in leadership in that organization understands the power of words. Non-profits are often really good at creating language around their organizational mission but what is keeping for-profits from doing the same thing?
Whatever level of leadership you hold, you can begin to create new pathways for your team simply by changing the language you use. Be intentional. Be consistent. Be contagious.
Recognizing the power of words is an incredible tool to effect meaningful change in 2023.