The Power of Speech: 4 Ways a Leader’s Words Can Change Lives

A poorly worded text or email. A well-timed statement to a colleague. An encouraging note to a friend. One way or the other, our words are powerful. They are so powerful that the Bible says they have the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:31). Sometimes, it’s in the timing. Sometimes it’s in the selection of the words. Sometimes it’s the person who shares them. But those words, which often only take seconds to say, can have years of influence. Here are four ways the words we choose can have lasting positive ripples.

Words can challenge and encourage.

Carly Fiorina was one of the top female CEOs in the country, known for her role as the leader of Hewlett-Packard from 1999-2005. Prior to this, she had a successful career at AT&T and Lucent Technologies and earned graduate degrees from both the University of Maryland and Stanford. However, her journey to success was not always straightforward. After dropping out of law school, she initially worked as a receptionist at a property brokerage firm in California. It was there that two brokers recognized her potential and began to have her help them write proposals, assess properties, make cold calls, and join in on strategy sessions. Their confidence in Carly became a powerful motivator for her future trajectory.

Our words, as well as the actions that accompany them, can provide the wind a person needs to acquire lift in their life.

Words can inspire.

World War II was devastating. The number of deaths, both civilian and military, is estimated to be over 50 million. During the war, when England was one of the last standing countries in Europe, Nazi Germany began bombing it and preparing to invade. It was at this time that English Prime Minister Winston Churchill, a man known for using the power of words, gave one of his inspiring speeches. While some wanted him to negotiate with Hitler, his words encouraged many in his country to stand strong and fight.

“We shall go on to the end,” he said, in a crescendo of ferocity and confidence. “We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender—”
- Erik Larson, The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz

And that’s how a leader can use words to inspire others.

Words can warn.

Wallace Peeples grew up in the rougher parts of Philadelphia. By middle school, he was hanging out with the wrong people and doing the wrong things, and he eventually ended up in prison facing a very long sentence. He got to know Rick, a far more seasoned prisoner who spoke words of warning to him. Rick told Wallace,

“You know, you remind me a lot of myself. You’re a good kid, but you have no leadership. I’m not here to preach to you, but what I’ve learned in my twenty years being locked up is being a follower is for suckers. I’ve seen you around, and people talk. You have a good heart, but you have weak impulses.”

Over time, Wallace began to listen to the advice of the people who cared about him, which resulted in a significant turnaround in his life. After receiving early release, he went on to become a social media influencer, podcaster, and motivational speaker.

Words of warning mixed with words of encouragement can have a powerful impact.

Words can motivate.

Sometimes we all need a kick in the pants – someone to motivate us to be better, act wiser, and work harder. Dr. Christopher L. Smith is a radiologist who trained at Johns Hopkins. But he came from a very broken home and ended up homeless as a teenager. When he started slipping in his schoolwork, his teacher asked him why he was failing her class. He said he did not care about grades. Her response was priceless:

“That is a load of horse excrement! You are one of the smartest kids in the class. For whatever reason, you are being lazy and not living up to your potential. But the person you will really disappoint? It’s not me. It’s not your parents. It’s your future self. That person will wish he had a time machine so he could go back in time and smack you upside the head!”

This teacher motivated him by sharing direct words with genuine care, and it worked!

Are your words inspiring, encouraging, warning, or motivating someone? What words shaped where you are today?

Contact us to learn how our coaches can help you sharpen your leadership skills, including developing the habit of using words that foster a positive culture.

Jay Desko is the President & CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.