“Words can inspire. And words can destroy. Choose yours well.” Robin Sharma
“Poets, priests and politicians, have words to thank for their positions…,” is a line from the 1980 song De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da by the band The Police. I came of age in the 1980’s so I play this song frequently. The melody, lyrics, and Sting’s vocals get to me every time. It’s a musical gift which keeps on giving. Each time I hear that verse, it makes me think of words and their power and use. In a 1988 interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, Sting shared the intent behind song. “The point of “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da, is to show how simpler lyrics are usually the best and the most trustworthy.” Sting continued, “I came to this conclusion by thinking about why there’s so much appeal around songs with nonsense lines like “doo wah diddy diddy,” “da doo ron ron,” and “be bop a lula.”
“…simpler lyrics are usually the best and most trustworthy.” Well said (and sung) by Sting and the same holds true for leadership. Simple, yet impactful words and phrases can drive home a leader’s intent, inspire, and even build trust. I’ve always believed that simple words and phrases deliver clarity, commonsense, and are therefore more trustworthy than lofty or complex words and phrases. Words and phrases can be the mark of a leader – his or her ‘brand.’ They can indeed be the reason for “their positions.” Politicians try to summarize their campaigns by using simple words and phrases such as “Yes we can,” or “Hope,” for Barrack Obama, or “Make America Great Again,” for Donald Trump. These words and phrases can win the day or backfire. They can inspire or disgust. I have words to thank for my positions and for my application of leadership.
In my encore life following my military career, I’ve found that words and wordcraft fuel both my writing and speaking creativity and my leadership influence. I’ve always had wordcraft skill but I did have to put in the work to find the right word(s). I was able to (and still am) use words and phrases to illustrate my intent behind an important effort, and to inspire my people into action. Leadership is influence and I use words and phrases to influence people to champion an idea of mine, impart a lesson, or to win a leader’s business so that I may help them, and their team achieve greatness. I choose words and phrases carefully and once I do, I use them often and with conviction and sometimes emotion…
