Four Ways to Use Language to Ignite Superior Performance in Your Team

We all have different communication styles, verbally and non-verbally some of which are highly effective at getting our messages across, others which are not. We set ourselves up to fail as leaders should we expect our team to conform to our natural communication styles. Proactively improving our language output and learning to speak the languages of our team increases positive relationship dynamics that bring more efficient performance and better results.

Here, I’ll illustrate four ways you can improve your language to help take your team to a level beyond that which they’re currently performing.

Average leaders use average language. “That was really good”, “Well done”, “Good effort”. The problem here is that the emotional charge of the words is average as well as the message being a common one that is easy to say. It requires little thought.

Whilst well-intended, your team will likely become accustomed to this. Instead, look for words that recognize the individual for the positive behavioral attributes they bring to the team.

“Mary, despite your current sales results, I know you have it within you to turn things around. You have a tenacity which is truly unique that also brings balance and drives the rest of this team. You may not be aware, but they watch and learn from you. I’m grateful that you bring this to the team.”

When your feedback recognizes specific competencies of individual contributions, watch their efforts increase. Illustrate why they are a benefit to the greater good of the company and your people develop empowerment. They feel they are in control of their results and their performance becomes intrinsically inspired.

Even though we may be generally positive people, our default mode is to recognize flaws and constantly look for avenues for improvement. Our efforts to naturally sprinkle words of recognition and thanks toward our team tend to pale in comparison.

Increase the frequency and amount of genuine, positive words tailored to your team members which demonstrates you value and recognize their attributes and contribution. You will feel a shift in the relationship dynamics, a change in energy and an increased desire to go from good to great. Don’t use encouraging words only to shift their mindset from a negative to a positive one. Harness opportunities to shift their minds from fourth gear to fifth gear.

Deliberate and tailored use of words will not only change the tone, mood, and level of inspiration each individual will develop but also:

People will rarely remember what you said to them, but they will remember how you made them feel

We’re not just talking about words.

In my article Why Your Language Matters: Four Ways Your Words Create an Underperforming Team, the human resources manager (HRM) failed to recognize the director needed to hear different information that would lead him to approve a soft skills training proposal. The director needed to hear the training would provide benefits in terms of revenue opportunities, not how team communication and cohesion would be increased.

Emotionally intelligent leaders are more effective because they proactively observe the words, information and behavior their team members respond favorably to.

Start with efforts to recognize if your team members are predominantly kinesthetic, visual or verbal learners. Research statistics indicate the majority of us are likely to be visual or kinaesthetically attuned in how we best learn and naturally communicate so we might best use language that taps into those modalities: “as a team, I imagine/picture our results looking like this”. Use more visual materials or devise activities that give different opportunities to take on board your message. Adopt the mindset of a teacher and expect to learn to deliver your message in more than one way if you want optimal performance.

Being 100% original can be difficult. Our team members are constantly watching and judging us, particularly in vulnerable moments. Whilst we’re often guided in leadership training to quote and emulate what successful leaders have done before us, our team will listen more intently when you deliver your own story and interpretation.

Your own animated stories of your successes, mistakes and learning experiences often build greater respect, trust, and loyalty and inspire your team more powerfully than parroting quotes or recommendations from a globally renowned business leader or a book. You need to choose the time and place wisely when you do so. However, sharing these raw stories inspires your team to develop their own emotional bond to your organization’s purpose.

Above all, the key theme in these four methods is to always seek to understand before being understood. Learning the languages of your team and using them just as much as you use your own will make your job easier as you will ignite levels of performance that are inspired from within themselves.