Rather than using our words to edify, encourage, and inspire, we so often use to degrade, disrespect, and dis. 

Some of the most strategic principles to improve both our leadership and our language can be discovered in a variety of sources – and almost all are reiterated in the Bible: 

– Resist promoting oneself, but let others promote you.  It’s much more effective in getting noticed. (Ref: Proverbs 27:2)

– The one who dominates the conversation is often the most insecure. But is trying to not let anyone else know it. (Ref: Proverbs 10:19)

– The one who listens more and speaks periodically is often perceived as the smartest and most confident. (Ref: Proverbs 17:27)

– We get more with “honey than vinegar”.  Kindness over cruelty gets more more often. (Ref: Luke 16:9)

– Helping others without telling others how often you help others  displays authentic leadership. (Ref: Matthew 6:1)

– Speaking to encourage, edify, nourish, and elevate is more effective than speaking to criticize, complain, and critique. (Ref: Proverbs 15:4)

Clearly, there are many more, but  the referenced collected nuggets are quite often the most ignored. Perhaps through ignorance, or pure selfish ambition.

Yet, as we read them, they may conjure up images of people we know. We may also feel the sting of conviction as we realize we can also be among the infractors.

Thankfully, we can learn, often times by seeking out mentors we most admire, even if they are not directly among us, via books, blogs, and various online outlets.

The key is investing the time to develop ourselves, our leadership, our communication skills, and our confidence so that we can make the best contribution possible – wherever we may be. 

It reminds me of some helpful insight I once heard. It was,  what others think about us, we have often taught them to think.  

Therefore, let us always consider, what are we teaching?