Marcia's Leadership Q and As: Forward Thinking Language Drives Success

Q. Some of our managers who have been here a long time use language and vocabulary with us that is depressing, pessimistic, and sometimes caustic. How do we get them to change?

A. The language that the managers use is probably what they learned from their managers years ago, and it hasn’t been questioned or challenged. That doesn’t excuse it. But It has helped create your culture or pockets of fear-based departments or teams. If your workplace is depressing and pessimistic, it is also probably stuck and not as forward-thinking as it could be. That impacts relationships, productivity, turnover, and profits.

Managers (and others who use poor language) are usually unaware of its impact on their own health and the health of everyone around them, i.e. the organization. There are conversations and exercises that can be taught that open people’s eyes together to better ways of communication. For some who still are stuck in their fixed thinking, some one-to-one conversations are most helpful. Some people have never been aware that their management style was destructive. Often, people who become aware of the negative impact they’ve had, are shocked and dismayed. They pivot their behavior abruptly and commit to a new, way to communicate and behave. A personal transformation can be fast and refreshing.

People can shift their vocabulary and shift their thinking to the future, supporting each other, and serving customers. A significant part of this is to also look at your whole organization and how it works. Partnerships with vendors are another essential part of a business’s success, and it is often assumed and overlooked. Building win-win relationships show that leaders know how to build respect and trust—critical in the business environment today.