Twist and Shout

August 5, 2024

Dear Leaders,

Words have impact.? Leaders can use them in a multitude of ways, from describing vision, to directing mission, to praising a job well done, and sometimes admonishing a miscreant person.? Nonetheless, no matter how well you convey your message, it is too easy for your words to get twisted and interpreted in a manner other than you intended.? Leaders who speak and write clearly and concisely and use feedback and follow-up to ensure meaning is clear and understood leave nothing to interpretation, to include their credibility.

Nowhere is the language more abused than in politics, and it even has a name:? spin.? Politicians are apt to say things they shouldn’t, and President Biden raised this to an art form even before he started having dementia.? Often leaving the media and the public scratching their heads in confusion or disbelief, he needed a dedicated crew of staff members at the ready to clarify, interpret, or mitigate what he said to minimize damage. ??

As it is in dance, the quality of the twist and shout is in the eye and ear of the beholder.? President Biden was given a megadose of reality after his bad debate performance in that no amount of spinning and twisting could account for what was painfully obvious to all.? In this case, the dance becomes bad theatre, as the more he and his handlers tried to spin to our satisfaction, the lower the scores on the judges’ scorecards.

Former President Trump takes a different approach, making it clear that he means what he says in his statements for which the word bizarre does not do them justice.? Rather than try to spin them, he twists reality in such a fashion that it appeals to many but leaves more searching for rationale where none exists.??????

Politicians aren’t alone in working the spinning wheel, as corporate leaders and even popes required someone to tell the public what they want the message to be, especially when the statement contradicts fact or doctrine.? Pope Francis often ventures into uncharted waters, only to be reeled in by Vatican hierarchy feverishly trying to reach a middle ground that does not contradict Church doctrine while still giving credence to his comments.??

This problem is also not limited to the halls of high power, as leaders at all levels find themselves facing challenges in understanding and being understood.? My infamous bad boss was notorious for her feeble attempts to reinterpret communication up and down the chain to satisfy her pre-determined point of view.? When we were faced with having to convey to the workforce the unpleasant ruling that they could not combine their breaks with their lunchtime to extend the latter, she tried to tell us to let them know it was good for them.? As you can expect, the four of us sitting there had identical incredulous expressions.?

In the converse, she would twist that which we said to use against us when we delivered bad news.? In trying to explain why certain cases took longer, or the data I was receiving from the analysts was more a hindrance than helpful because it was both old and inaccurate, she would turn what I said into an indictment of my failing to do something to her satisfaction.? Beyond not knowing well what we did, she was willfully and openly ignorant, yet considered herself an expert for having served at our national headquarters, while we who did the actual work were just rubes. ??

Employees are likewise prone to alter the meaning of your words to suit their preferences, especially if they have malicious intentions.? An employee who wanted to be left alone to do easy work would take the most innocuous comment and twist it into something to be used in an accusation of discrimination or misconduct that would leave us buried in paperwork requiring response.? Others will simply plead ignorance, claiming to have not heard clearly, or the time-worn excuse of more modern times:? “I didn’t get the email.”?

In choosing your words, leaders must do what they can to prevent misunderstanding.? Always speak and write clearly in plain language and avoid any hidden meaning.? If you’re like me, and have a penchant for sarcasm, you have to withhold it, lest the intent of your meaning get lost therein.? Use data to make your point when relevant and ask questions to ensure that the recipients understand the message and your intentions.? As you get to know your people, know how they take in and process information, and tailor your communication to facilitate better understanding.? In instances of more detailed information, follow up verbal conveyance with written instructions.???

As you can’t please everyone, you can’t make everyone understand and comprehend.? Regardlss of the dance called by the band leader, some will go out on the floor and move to the rhythm of their own music, while others, much like the immature teenagers, simply want to disrupt the party.? Leaders who nonetheless communicate clearly and plainly will gain understanding and with it, gain more respect.? You don’t have to be boring, for you can had a dash of humor and philosophy in the right mix, and in doing so, they will want to hear what you have to say, and dance to the music you call.??

Sincerely,

Tim