Like many things in life, I suspect we all tend to go through our daily routines and give very little thought to the power of our “words.” Words, in fact, have incredible power and impact in our moods, feelings and self-esteem. 

They provide us with a vehicle to express our experiences, feelings, desires, concerns and dreams with others. We live and breathe words.
 
Like most human beings, I have on occasion (ok, many occasions) uttered words that I have regretted and these words came back to haunt me. It is experiences like these that give us a wake-up call and to become more aware of the influence our words have on others.
 
Calming words by a loving mother or father can and does make a child feel better. Likewise, in a business setting, the right selection of words can bring clarity and focus to a troubling business issue, as well as reduce stress and anxiety.
 
Life does not have a remote or rewind button. Thus, it is incumbent that all of us use words for the good of the people we care about and the people we interact with in our business lives.
 
Words can be empowering and create an environment that makes it safe for employees to create, take risks and to leap in and perform for the good of the organization.
 
Words help to develop a mind-set that anything is possible and the excitement of pursuing new and interesting things. Words support our dreams and aspirations.
 
Words are issues in a group activity. There is a speaker (sender) and a listener (receiver) and requires responding to each other to ensure that good communication is taking place and the right words are communicated to ensure clear understanding, as well as mutual respect and appreciation for each other.
 
As leaders, we do not have to follow a script written by someone else. We are quite free to choose the words that express our point of view and feelings. In fact, we do indeed have a responsibility to articulate in a singular manner — in a manner that people recognize as yours.
 
We all have been touched by Martin Luther King’s words in his “I Have a Dream” speech. It lasted just seven minutes and yet his power and emotional message still resonates today!
 
Dr. King’s words painted aural images, “The Red Hills of Georgia where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and girls and walk together as sisters and brother. I have a dream …”
 
Words engender enthusiasm and foster positive attitudes. Employees admire leaders that are electric, vigorous and full of life. Their words and deeds show that they live by their words.
 
Words breathe life into the vision, strategy and objectives of the organization.
 
When selecting our words, leaders need to listen first and often. The facts are we all have been injured by words, hit by words, embarrassed, humiliated and tested by words. I can still recall most of these experiences. I am attempting to forgive but not forget! Remember, I am a Sicilian!
 
Negative words kill motivation, incentive, passion and the desire to do a good job! True leaders back up their words by living by their values.
 
They espouse. They make visions and values tangible. Leaders align words, actions and values! Remember, others are watching.
 
Think about it — words are who we are! They foster feelings and loyalty.
Words create a caring attitude toward people. Words capture us through story telling.
 
The right words at the right time are like a shot of adrenaline.
 
“It is not sufficient to know what one ought to say, but one must know how to say it.” – Aristotle, Rhetoric
 
Words do define how we see ourselves and can determine what we become. The major challenge we all face with talking (words) is everyone does it, yet we tend not always appreciate how words affect others and for that matter ourselves.
 
Words do far more then bless and curse. They set the parameters of how people will react to you. As leaders it is critical that we take the time to choose our words carefully and to be cognizant of their tremendous influence on others.
 
“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter — tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” – Mark Twain
 
Communication (words) involves how we feel about ourselves as leaders and as a person, how it affects others and thus means we are in turn affected by others.
 
Let us all listen to our inner voice before we speak.

Passante is the author of “The Human Side, The Human Touch In A High Tech World.” Learn more here.