The Stunning Alchemy of Solid Language

A key presentation point in a Leadership Meeting I just facilitated was: “The Stunning Alchemy of Solid Language”.

When I think about the power, flexibility and limitlessness of language, this statement nails it. Solid language; that wonderful net result of what we craft and deliver (think about, edit, then SAY) being clear, potentially inspiring, and focused.

HOW FANTASTIC!

The writer’s struggle is to deliver sentences and paragraphs that speak precisely. How does this apply to Leaders? Leaders are writing constantly! When our feet hit the floor in the morning, somewhere in the thinning fog of awakening we consider that one unavoidable and demanding conversation in our future. Thus, Language is our most reliable tool. From simple encouragement to a detailed, difficult correctional conversation, Leaders leverage language.

Questions are a great way to prepare for a tough conversation, and one of my favorites acts (and works) as an admonition, an encouragement or simply a way to properly prepare.

“What do I want this language to accomplish?”

One of my most instructive interviews on the Your StartUp Advisors podcast was with Dwayne Samuels. Entrepreneur, visionary and thinker Mr. Samuels stated: “We are not thinking beings who feel- we are emotional beings who think.”

This helps me, because when I have pent-up emotion, the next thing I say may have unintended fallout.

People will either get something positive out of what I say or ask… or they will walk away affected.

We all struggle to remain positive. In a world where the barrage of negative emotions, experiences, images and statements sometimes shouts down the positive, it is up to leaders to leave people with something positive to consider or do. The stunning alchemy of solid language is the perfect prescription for our ills. Solid language does not employ unnecessary words (or emotions! – Thank You, Alex K!)

Unnecessary words are one thing. We can debate which prepositions, subjects or objects we can rearrange to get the language right. When we examine which (or whether) specific emotions in our language will accomplish what we hope the statement, email or monologue is intended to… we must view it with an editor’s eye.

I repeat, for emphasis, and for clarity: “What do I want this language to accomplish?”

Take this as a preparation step for your next video posting, twitter comment, or email. When we reach for (and attain!) The stunning alchemy of solid language, we accomplish SO much because we have thought things THROUGH.

With that in mind…

Go say craft and deliver something inspiring.