Your Words Are Building Something
How leadership language quietly shapes trust, culture, and the teams you lead
If leadership is influence, then language is the tool we wield every day to shape it—sometimes intentionally, often accidentally.
In Episode 10 of Leadership Explored, we dive into something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention in the leadership world: the power of language.
Whether you’re giving feedback, writing a performance review, or speaking at an all-hands, the words you choose aren’t just passing moments. They’re blueprints for behavior. They’re culture in disguise. They either build trust—or slowly corrode it.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here:
Or find it on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Audible | Substack
What we explore in this episode:
Why vague corporate language like “shifting priorities” or “realigning resources” might be doing more harm than good
How shared, intentional language (aka "ubiquitous language") aligns teams and reduces confusion
The surprising ways metaphors influence how people interpret their work
How something as subtle as a pronoun reveals a leader’s mindset
The huge trust gap that appears when words and behaviors don’t match—and how to fix it
Small shifts that leaders can make to use language with more clarity and cultural awareness
Key Quote:
“Once people stop trusting what you say, they’ll stop engaging with what you mean.” – Ed Schaefer
Why this matters right now:
A lot of leaders talk about culture. Fewer realize that culture is being created in the margins—through Slack messages, all-hands comments, offhand metaphors, and scripts we reuse without thinking.
We think communication is just a tool. But in reality, language is culture. It either invites people in, or it subtly pushes them out. It builds clarity—or confusion. Trust—or distance.
You don’t need to be perfect. But you do need to be aware.
A few questions to reflect on this week:
– What metaphors show up most in your org?
– Are your words aligned with your actual values and behaviors?
– What pronouns do you reach for instinctively when giving credit or assigning blame?
– What “scripts” are you repeating without question—and what are they signaling?
If you care about leading with integrity, clarity, and purpose, this episode is for you.
And if it sparks something for you, we’d love to hear what’s resonating—or what you’re rethinking.
🧠 Let us know what leadership language you’re trying to change or redefine.
📬 leadershipexplored@gmail.com
💬 Or drop a comment below.
Until next time—lead with purpose.
—
Ed & Andy
Leadership Explored