Earlier this week, I was part of a collaborative meeting
focusing on organizational change. The team leader posed a question for the
group to dissect with the intent of finding a solution to a more effective work
environment. Everyone was sharing their thoughts and ideas. While some people were
not either for or against a new work setting, other people had already designed
plans in place ready to revamp the offices. As people shared their ideas, one person said “a
little décor would do this place well to get it out of its depressive state, it’s
such disarray.” The room went silent. Although
most people in the room knew this person did not make the statement with malicious
thought, the words had come out wrong. Words are powerful: they can lift up and
they can tear down.
Most of us have heard this statement in one way or another “if
you don’t have to say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” Although
words are free to flow from our thought to our mouth, it requires a certain
practice and devotion to dictate them in ways that are uplifting, encouraging,
and honoring. If your words cannot help,
nourish, or love, it’s better to zip it.
© 2013 Natacha Michel
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