Language Of Leadership

Usamah Ahmad
OD Training Aug ‘09
Inxight360 Communications
The Language of Leadership

Some Definitions
If names are not correct, language will not be in accordance with the truth of things.
Confucius (c. 551-479 B.C.)

POWER
is
the ability to get others to do what you want them to do.

LEADERSHIP
is
1) the ability and
2) the willingness
3) to influence others to change willingly.

It's not the critic who counts. It's not the man who points out where the grown man stumbles, or how the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who actually is in the arena, who strives violently, who errs and comes up short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who if he wins knows the triumph of high achievement, but who if he fails, fails while daring greatly, so his place will never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States

LEVELS OF HUMAN ACTIVITY
(for Leadership and Change Management)

. BEHAVIOR
. THOUGHTS
. VALUES AND BELIEFS

Searching for LEVEL THREE LEADERSHIP

In Paris they simply stared when I spoke to them in French; I never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language!
Mark Twain

Language is
the light of the mind.
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)

EFFECTIVE LEVEL THREE LEADERSHIP LANGUAGE

Clear
Respectful
Stimulating
Congruent

CLARITY in LEADERSHIP LANGUAGE
Men employ speech only to conceal their thoughts.
Voltaire (1694-1778)

Un-Clear
If only everyone talked the way we do in my household. I mean. . . if only everyone . . . like . . talked . . you know. . . the way we do . . . right? It would be so much . . . like . . . easier . . . you know . . . to understand . . . right?
Robert Nordell

Clear

Picture of where we want to go: vision.
(Not a gift, requires hard work and thinking.)
Hopes and Desires
Plan
Expectations/wants
Invitations

Respectful

Recognizes potential value: Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country
Caring (What are your outcomes?)
Listening (What’s your view?)
First Person “I” or “we” statements
Descriptive not judgmental
Takes time

Stimulating

Engaged,
passionate, focused on Level Three
Challenging
to established routines, beliefs and values
Creative
Memorable
Intent
Related humor and metaphors

Congruent

Truth telling:
Welch: Be candid with everyone
Promise Keeping
Consistent
With actions: Walking the Talk
With followers’ goals
No Disguises or Deceptions
No Manipulations

SELF DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS

Clarity: What do I want? What do they want?
Respectful: What can they offer? How does our mission need them?
Stimulating: What will get their attention? How can I demonstrate my commitment?
Congruent: Can I be honest with them and me?

It’s just semantics . . . .
Yes,
and the words we choose and how we deliver them make all the difference.