Words

Simple, everyday language, something we don't often think about, or even consider what we say. And the effect it can have on others, without even realising the damage that we can cause. Or the upset, the person can feel.

I have spent this morning reading up on the latest Code of practise for Electrical Energy Storage Systems-2nd Edition and, The Code of Practise for Electrical Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation 5th edition, as there is a crossover between the two, especially with the use of your car battery, As a bidirectional Power source.

Now bear with me because this will go off on a tangent to get to the point!

As a person with dyslexia, Reading is not easy for me, but a necessary part of my everyday job. The massive increase in acronyms. Also causes problems, I end up having to write them out in longhand and keep referring to them till I get them in my head.

I notice that in Section 3, page 17 of the Code of Practice for Electrical Energy Storage Systems 2nd edition the shorthand for a battery management system, is (BMS), I've grown up over the decades, to believe that (BMS) is a building management system?

Are they interchangeable or are they the same thing, more reading is required! I’m still reading the book.

These constant acronyms and shortcuts cause confusion, between what we know and what we now need to learn So, when writing a technical document, am I talking about a building management system (BMS) or a battery management system (BMS)?' Because the acronyms are the same?

Imagine you are writing an article. That has to do with battery storage and the control, via the building management system, and it gets misread?

And people believe that the battery management system. is the one that takes precedence rather than the building management system. Or is it? the building management system takes precedence over the battery management system? Don’t be silly we all know which one is in charge or do we?

This constant shortcutting of our language, and the use of modern hieroglyphic emojis, which are just a modern version of the Egyptian Hieroglyphics, in my opinion, it, has kind of gone full circle!

This can lead to serious implications by mistake because people don't understand, the implications of what they're talking about because it has been truncated, and its true meaning can get lost.

And in my opinion, normally, so that somebody can feel superior or more important, or just put somebody in their place, now let's be honest, we all do this, even by mistake with no ill intent, we've gotten so used to doing it, that we forget and assume that others immediately understand us, I have been guilty of this.

It reminds me of the film “Good Morning, Vietnam” and some of the famous improvs/put downs Robin Williams delivered such as and I quote: -

“Seeing as how the VP’s such a VIP, shouldn’t we keep the PC on the QT, cause if it leaks to the VC he could end up MIA, and then we’d all be put on KP.” ?Robin Williams.

To bring this back on topic, I received a phone call from a family member who innocently asked what I was up to, I said bringing myself up to date with changes in regulations to better serve my customers, and the reply was “ I don’t see why you bother, nobody appreciates it and most customers could not care less” this hit home rather hard, because what they were saying was don’t bother trying to improve nobody gives a dam or cares!? And you're wasting your time and money!?

But I do, I want to make sure I do the best job I can in what I do for my customers and this is achieved by constant study and upgrading our knowledge, whether that be by watching a podcast, reading a magazine going to a trade show reading an article or reading the latest Codes of practice which are constantly evolving as we all learn, even those that write them and put them together, it's all CPD.

The person in question completely devalued me and my willingness to constantly try and improve myself and others around me by sharing or researching knowledge, yet they have no idea how that made me feel even for a few brief moments in time it hurt.

“My willingness to learn and improve is worthless” WOW; I seriously doubt that the person sees what they said in that way!

So be careful of what we say, as it could destroy a vulnerable person and cause them to lose all confidence in their ability, and shut down and walk away, “words have immense power”, and we need to be careful and encourage our apprentices and our peers, not to destroy them, without a second thought, even carelessly and without intent, if we do say something we need to own it and the responsibility.

I for one have always tried to be honest and fair and work from a win-win position for everybody.

I am far too honest for my own good and many people find this uncomfortable, the only thing I will dig my heels in over is if somebody says I have lied, often to feel like they have superiority over you and try to control you or abuse you, in my personal opinion, and let's be honest it's about them not you.

Our word is the only true thing that is ours, and keeping my word is far more important to me.

“ WORDS HAVE IMMENSE POWER”

They can do so much good, but a flippant phrase without thought can cause immense harm, so try to be careful in your response to others; As the saying goes you can “Make my day” or utterly destroy somebody by accident the intent is yours, and this defines you as a human being.