What’s Your Leadership Language Really Saying?
The subtle power of everyday words—and how leaders can use them to build trust, shape culture, and lead with more intention.
Most leadership damage isn’t delivered in bold declarations or big mistakes.
It shows up in subtle ways: the phrases we repeat, the metaphors we default to, the way we word emails, give feedback, or run meetings. It’s the quiet, often unnoticed language that slowly builds—or erodes—trust and culture.
🧠 Leadership language isn’t about being inspirational.
It’s about being intentional.
In Episode 10 of Leadership Explored (dropping Tuesday, July 29), we dive deep into how leaders communicate—often without realizing the impact of what they’re saying.
Here’s a quick preview of what we cover:
💬 Why Corporate Jargon Creates Distance
“We’re shifting priorities.”
“We’re optimizing resources.”
“We need to do more with less.”
These phrases might sound strategic—but they often signal obfuscation. And your team knows it. As we discuss in the episode:
“Once people stop trusting what you say, they’ll stop engaging with what you mean.” – Ed Schaefer
🧭 The Hidden Weight of Pronouns
“I” for wins and “we” for failures? Red flag.
Leaders who flip this dynamic build trust, credibility, and shared ownership.
🌱 Why Metaphors Matter More Than You Think
War metaphors might energize some teams—but they can unintentionally fuel conflict or burnout.
Instead, try metaphors rooted in building, growing, or navigating. They foster collaboration and resilience.
“A metaphor isn’t just a figure of speech—it’s a mindset you hand your team.” – Andy Siegmund
⚙️ Intent Isn’t Enough—Behavior Is the Message
You can say “we value balance,” but if you reward 60-hour workweeks, your culture tells a different story. We explore how misaligned language and behavior can quietly hollow out trust.
“Intent doesn’t create change—mechanisms do.” – Andy Siegmund
🎧 Listen In
If you’re a leader at any level—whether you’re managing a team of two or shaping the direction of a company—this episode will challenge you to rethink how your words shape your team’s experience.
👂 Episode 10 drops Tuesday, July 29
🎙️ Leadership Language – How Words Build (or Break) Culture
🔗 Listen and subscribe at www.leadershipexploredpod.com
Try This Leadership Reflection Today:
Take 60 seconds to skim your last 5 Slack messages, emails, or 1:1 notes.
Ask yourself:
✨ Are these words creating clarity—or confusion?
✨ Do they build trust—or protect ego?
✨ What kind of culture would this language reinforce?
Language isn’t fluff. It’s infrastructure. And the good news? You can change it—one word at a time.
Thanks for exploring leadership with us.
Ed and Andy, Leadership Explored