And all the people were speaking well of Him, and admiring the gracious words which were coming from His lips; and yet they were saying, "Is this not Joseph’s son?”
Luke 4:22
Wherever Jesus went, He used words that created healing, magnetism, inspiration, empowerment, teaching, truth, and more. In my best-selling book, PERSUADE, I talk about the power of words: “With words the world was created; with words she will say ’I do’; with words you can make or break someone’s day.” Solomon said in Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” Words have the power to bring people together or break them apart. It’s been said that 90% of arguments start from the tone we use when talking to people.
How you see them is how you will speak to them. With our words, we cannot strengthen and weaken at the same time; we can- not encourage and discourage at the same time. We must be intentional in the atmosphere we want to create. With words, deposits or withdrawals are being made in the relationship bank account in every conversation. The words we choose have the power to draw people toward us or make them want to retreat from us. Words have the power to create the emotional environment around us. With our words, we can choose to create an atmosphere of warmth or cold- ness, acceptance or rejection, distance or closeness.
Leaders use the power of words to increase their influence, empower people, and move their organization forward. Speaking words of affirmation, with warmth in tonality and with a positive “posture of the heart” toward others has the ability to create a magnetic pull between you and others. How do leaders do this using the power of words? Leaders view people in a positive light so they can speak to them in a way that creates empowering relationships.
LEADERS:
- Want the best for others.
- Think the best of others.
- Speak kindly to others.
- Plant words of hope in others.
- See and believe the best about others.
- Intentionally encourage others so they feel built up while they are with them.
REFLECT TO CONNECT
- How would people describe the way in which you communicate?
- Regarding those who are especially loyal to you, what creates this magnetism toward you?
- Who is a master of using words to create motivation, magnetism, and a positive environment that you could model your leadership after; how do they do it?
Words are like keys that can open or close the door to the heart; use them wisely.
