For leaders, words are instruments of influence. Some may
consider it to be pedantry, sophistry or even artifice, however
when it comes to engaging and motivating a team, choice of words
matters and great leaders know the words and phrases to choose, and
those to avoid.
Over the years I've watched law firm leaders at all levels
define their success by their words and conduct. Some have been
exceptional. Others have made me cringe! At times the lack of
insight to the negative impact of leaders using poorly chosen
narratives has been breathtaking.
While academics might argue about where they sit on the
hierarchy of leadership traits, there is little doubt that
communication, self-awareness, compassion and emotional
intelligence are attributes that sit somewhere in the top half of
the list. Over the years, I've admired many of the truly great
leaders of our time demonstrate an innate ability to know just what
to say in that moment; and perhaps, more importantly, what
