The Power of Language

What language does your team speak? Does it speak any common language? Words empower us. Sometimes they catalyze our story and sometimes they end it. "I can" or "I can't." A single letter informs introduction and epitaph. 



Ford championed, "Quality is Job One" and Southwest Airlines is "the Low Cost Airline". In Drumline, Orlando Jones reminds band members, "One band, one sound." The Army preaches: "Duty, Honor, Courage." The New Zealand rugby superpower All Blacks lives "Humility, Excellence, Respect."

Words change history. Bill Clinton won an election with "It's the economy, stupid" and Donald Trump parlayed "Make America Great Again" into the Presidency. "Remember the Maine" was the battle cry for the Spanish-American War. Atul Gawande wrote, Better, explaining pathways to advances like polio vaccine and fewer surgical complications. 

Teams benefit from consistent themes. My high school coach preached "sacrifice". I encouraged a running team with the Foo Fighters, "Learn to Fly".

Converting words into consistent action challenges us daily. I carry a little notebook in my pocket. The first page headline? START OVER. Today is a new day. Yesterday is history. Be present. 

Language condenses concepts into actions. "Cut and pass" summarizes actions to create quality chances. For the All Blacks, the Maori paoa describes offense, "to strike." Defensively, "no paint" means no penetration and "hard twos" demands challenging shots without fouling. The All Blacks use the Maori tainui "surging tide" for their defensive swarm. Make language work to empower your teams.