Proverbs 18:21 (MSG) Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose.
Speech is the mirror of the soul; as a man speaks, so he is. (Publilius Syrus)
Our words, written or spoken, have power. More power than we often realize. Beyond the obvious meaning of choosing words that feed and nurture a person, as opposed to words that destroy a person, there is a subtly that is sometimes missed.
The leader who is full of jest, quick wit, “in-your-face” retorts or even IYF humor must develop the discipline to know when that kind of confident, carefree speech is appropriate. It would be well to remember what Plato said: Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.
Especially in this day of 140 character “speech” on social networking sites, something written with jest -- not because one has something to say, but because one can say something -- can easily be misunderstood because of the law of unintended consequences.
Developing the proficiency to speak in such a way that one limits the unintended consequences is a skill leaders must continually develop. I know how easy it is to quickly say what I’m thinking instead of thinking before I say.
For the Christian leader, your words have eternal consequences: “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” –Jesus Christ (Matthew 12:36-38)
Remember, that the words we say will teach if we practice what we preach.
What do you “preach” by your life and your language?
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Friday, September 18, 2009
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2 comments:
It is very easy to let our words get the best of us, especially if you have a good sense of humor and are around others who do as well. But sometimes we need to realize that as leaders we set the standard and think about our jokes before they come out. I think it's human nature to want to "talk things out" when we are making decisions, but leaders must be very careful not to say things in these moments that may haunt them later.
Spot on! Thank you. I was reminded of a friend who thinks in "put down" mode and does not realize that sometimes, those "put downs" hurt - even with an understanding that part of this language pattern is born from his culture and some from his deep insecurity - the words often hit first before realization kicks in.
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