The Power of Words

As my mama has always said, “words have the power of life or death.” It is true in your own personal life, relationships, business, marketing, and on and on. Have you ever heard the saying, ‘what you say is what you get’? Well, it’s true. Your words have the power to create…

If you have never paid attention to how people respond to your texts, emails, voicemails, social posts, blogs, phone conversation, or even in person let me encourage you to begin studying it and thinking carefully before you speak.

Communicating is an important part of what I do, yes – but it has always been something I strive to do better, more effectively, and to always make clear. Often times less is more, but that doesn’t mean we can always avoid the tough conversations.

Recently I shared a post on Productive Flourishing about my transition off of social media and told the story about how I said “I want off social by the end of 2020” out loud to a few associates. I had been thinking it for years, but when I finally verbalized it, something started working those words into motion. It’s amazing what happens when you use your words to create change.

It all starts with a life mindset.

Bad things happen in life. That is a certainty. But what you do with those bad things and how you respond to them makes a difference in your resilience, your attitude, and how you handle the next hurdle.

Your self-talk is another layer that either propels you or can stunt you. If all you think and say to yourself about your work, brain, performance, self-image, or even your health is negative, even if you’re trying to make a joke, that’s what your mind will believe. No kidding.

So, instead of talking about how crummy I feel, or even if I think a cold is coming on, you will not hear me speak those words. Instead, I fight it with healthy natural remedies, and change my mind so my body has to follow.

Business words make an impact, too – good or bad.

Similarly, using negative words in an email, text or business communication will get a point across, but is the point you want to make? Really think about that and if you’re responding in a moment of heat, may I suggest setting it aside for a while and come back to it later? Many a relationship has been saved by ‘sleeping on it’ before hastily hitting the send button.

How you say what you need to say, difficult or encouraging, makes all the difference. When delivering bad news or criticism, many will use the sandwich method. Sandwich the bad with sincere good at the beginning and the end. That way, the recipient hears good coming and going while also hearing the truth.

In marketing the words you use and how you relate to your target can cause someone to embrace your offer, product, or service, or it can repel them faster than you can imagine. Consider your website copy, how you frame your social posts, blog posts, email marketing communication, even print materials.

With today’s retracting attention spans how swiftly you make an impact is vital. Too much text can lose your audience. Too little or not punchy enough? That can leave your audience confused to the point they move on.

Simply put, your words have power.

They have power to put motion into a thought or a dream.

They have power to cut and divide, or they have the power to build up, encourage, and love.

Your words can make your body, finances, business, and relationships healthy – or sick. You get to choose. It only takes intention.

Think on the power of your words next time you are in a meeting, having dinner with a friend or family member, crafting an email, or developing your business strategy.

What can you use your words to create for good?