“Words are, of course, the most potent drug used by mankind. –Rudyard Kipling
As a leader, motivating and inspiring people is one of your most important jobs, and the words you say (and how you say them) are your most powerful tool. And if you strive to be an great Chief, there are things you should never say.
Related: 10 phrases to remove from your vocabulary
Here are seven statements to completely remove from our vocabulary:
1. “There are no problems, only opportunities. »
Yes, problems do arise and denying them does not make them go away. Although the phrase is often used to encourage team members to think more creatively, it can also indicate that the leader is unwilling to listen when there are real challenges to overcome. This makes the leader out of touch and weak.
The solution: Always be ready to listen to your employees and make sure they know it. The result will be employees who are much more willing to take on challenges and provide you with solutions.
2. "Don't do anything without asking me first." ”
Unless someone is new to a job, micromanaging every step of it not only hinders their growth, but is equally unproductive for the leader. When leaders manage everything, they bottleneck the process and lower employee morale. Employees are productive when they have meaningful work and the resources and authority to do their job.
The Solution: Instead of micromanaging, clarify expectations up front, vet employees based on their training and abilities, and follow up on how they are doing. The goal is to put the right people in the right places and enable them to succeed.
3. "Don't bring me bad news."
Telling employees that this doesn't make bad news go away, but it can prevent a leader from finding out in time for it to be dealt with. Colin Powell, former US Secretary of State, said:“Bad news is not wine. It doesn't get better with age. It's always better to tackle a problem when it's small than to wait until it's costly or causes bad publicity.
The solution: Create an environment where employees are encouraged to raise issues as they arise so they can be resolved.
4. "It's not personal, it's a business. »
Business is all about relationships, and relationships are personal. Employees spend the majority of their waking hours at work. Leaders who ignore their feelings will create resentment and struggle to achieve their goals.
The Solution: Create a culture where employees know you have a passion for your work, but empathy for people. Show that you respect them by treating them the way they want to be treated.
5. “We don't need ideas anymore. ”
Leaders often reject creative ideas not because those ideas lack potential, but because they are unable to handle the fear, uncertainty, and anxiety that comes with support an idea that may be innovative but presents potential risk, such as loss or negative judgment of their boss. After all, if the leader backs an unproven idea and the idea goes up in flames, they believe they are too. The unexpected result is that an organization doesn't thrive and progress without an influx of innovative (and sometimes edgy) ideas.
The Solution: Open yourself to new ideas and ways of thinking. Take employee ideas seriously and have an unbiased person you trust assess how a new idea might be implemented with changes in strategy or process.
6. "I don't want any interruptions." »
Leaders are often interrupted. You need time to plan and think, but if your door is always closed and employees never come to update you, it's probably because the message is clear:you're too busy to be bothered. The downside is that you don't know what's going well or what needs your guidance.
The solution: Stop what you're doing, get away from your computer and really listen to your people. When you need to do something important and don't have time to listen, try saying, "I really want to be able to listen to this because it's an important topic. Please come back in an hour so I can give him my full attention. This way you'll stay informed and still be able to accomplish the things you need for a longer block of time.
7. “Failure is not an option. »
Leaders who embrace this philosophy instill fear and anxiety in their employees because mistakes are not allowed . Nobody can take risks or try something new, because they always have to play it safe. It's the best way for leaders to build a stagnant culture and a company that can't compete in the marketplace. Failure is really a teaching tool to lead us to something bigger.
The solution: Make sure your employees know that mistakes aren't fatal – the goal is to find mistakes quickly, fix them, and move on. If you wait without blemish, you will never start anything new. True failure is the fear of developing an idea until it's perfect.
Related: The powerful combination of words and emotion
