You’ve heard it before: words have power. Words have the power to motivate, the power to energize, the power to call to action, and the power to disappoint.
Similar in business, as in politics, people want to believe the words, yet quickly become disenfranchised by actions when the actions don’t match the words. We frequently say, based on continuous proof, behavior trumps words.
In a moribund economy, and hearing the message sent by the voters that jobs and a growing economy are important, businesses are looking for an opportunity to grow again. Yet some don’t fully appreciate or acknowledge that the business landscape has changed, they are still using the old rhetoric buttressed by pre-recession beliefs. For other, it’s a ripe opportunity for success and they have found a way to communicate it not only to their employees but also the marketplace. It is about your words, and more deeply, your beliefs that fuel them.
As a Business leader we suggest you have three actions:
1) Tell your employees how business will get better, how they will grow, and how the work place will return to a “new normal”
2) Hold planning meetings to identify a future state for the business and identify what is required to get to that future state. We highly recommend you engage your employees at some level in your strategy work.
3) Based on the above, identify an implementation plan with timeliness and accountabilities, and take action that matches your words.
Words without actions are disempowering, disappointing and demoralizing. You as the leader have complete control over the message, how it’s delivered and how you make it real. Behavior, whether individual or organizational, that does not align with stated words, becomes controversial, incongruent, or superficial at best. Consistency is important: consistency in the message and consistency in the actions that support the message. As a leader to those you influence, what message is it that you want to leave, and be known for?
In our Quick Tips this week, we will provide action steps you can take to turn your words into action.
Copyright 2010 Kubica and LaForest
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