Choose our words, choose our experiences. Language matters — Are we consciously choosing our words?

This month, we focus on the communication skill of Language. Here are insights, tips, and resources to help you communicate from the inside out by connecting the heart and the mind.

Choose our words, Choose our experiences. Language matters — Are we consciously choosing our words?

Language shapes what we think, how we feel, and what we do. Change our words and we change our experiences.

We use the language of metaphors without giving much thought to what we’re saying and how it could be affecting us. We often inherit this language from our culture (including workplace cultures) without considering how it is or isn’t serving us in reaching our goals.

For example…

When I hear the popular metaphor “crush it” applied to work or life, it indicates to me an energy of force and aggression. Knowing that when we choose our words, we choose our experiences, I become conscious and ask important questions:

• Are force and aggression the energies that I choose to embody?
• What am I "crushing" when I’m crushing "it?"
• Am I choosing my metaphors or defaulting to the norm?

When I am conscious about my communication, I realize that there may be times when “crushing it” (masculine energy) is the best choice. And times that it’s not, and I’m just defaulting to this language when another metaphor could be beneficial, like “inviting it” (feminine energy).

When I am conscious, I get to make choices.

• What language do I choose?
• What energies (emotions) do I choose?
• What experiences do I choose?

Why would I choose to use the metaphor “invite it” at work instead of just defaulting to the popular “crush it?” It’s about making a conscious language choice in order to move towards a strategic energetic goal.

Here’s what I mean…

I enjoy my work. I invest a good amount of my time in producing quality and value. And I get results. Without the force or aggression of "crushing it." Because I work from an energy of flow and creativity, my value comes from inviting the ideas to emerge. It's organic. It's not forceful. And this kind of approach is much more sustainable, I find, because it doesn't drain my energy.

By choosing my words, I am choosing my experiences. With “invite it,” I am choosing flow, creativity, and energetic sustainability.

Talk kindly to yourself.

Positive self-talk is speaking honest and kind words of encouragement to yourself. Since we know that language matters and our words become our experiences, I encourage you to speak kindly to yourself because you are hearing every word you say. And those words have the power to affect you.

A thought about oneself spoken out loud is 100 to 1000 times greater in its neuronal energy and impact on our self-concept than a random thought. (p. 43)*

So, I invite you to become conscious of your communication and be empowered to choose language that serves you best.

*Bullard, B. and Caroll, K. (1999). Communicating from the inside out. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.

Want to learn more about how language shapes what we think, how we feel, and what we do? Check out these resources:

How language shapes the way we think. Lera Boroditsky (TED Talk).

"There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way we think? Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky shares examples of language -- from an Aboriginal community in Australia that uses cardinal directions instead of left and right to the multiple words for blue in Russian -- that suggest the answer is a resounding yes. 'The beauty of linguistic diversity is that it reveals to us just how ingenious and how flexible the human mind is,' Boroditsky says. 'Human minds have invented not one cognitive universe, but 7,000.'"

How 8 Organizational Metaphors Impact Leadership. Nobl Academy (article).

"Metaphors are incredibly powerful. A good one grabs attention and helps people see through a shared set of eyes. But metaphors can also be a trap. They can obstruct our perspective, and in turn, limit our understanding of a situation, and confine our choices."

Setting and Communicating Boundaries: The Power of Strategically Saying NO. Gino Perrotte (LinkedIn Live, Dec 14, 2021).

"Saying NO is an important skill for setting and communicating boundaries. Saying NO can create a free space for us to say YES when it counts. In this LinkedIn Live event, I offered insights about the power of language, explore common reasons why so many of us struggle with boundaries and saying NO, and suggest tips for ways that you can begin to set and communicate healthy boundaries -- by saying both yes and NO, strategically."

Building and Communicating an Authentic Personal Brand. Gino Perrotte (LinkedIn Live, Jan 4, 2022).

"Our language is an important branding tool which can attract or repel people. An authentic personal brand can act like a magnet drawing similar people to us. An online benefit of having this magnet is that it helps us more easily and effectively sort through a sea of potential people with whom we might genuinely connect. When we’re searching online, we want others to help us do the work of weeding out options."

Hands-on resource to help you improve your Communication and Virtual Public Speaking skills.

My upcoming course (begins February 6, 2022) Virtual Public Speaking for Professionals is an Instructor-Led online course designed to help you:

• Manage your nerves while speaking
• Make small talk and introduce yourself via an elevator pitch
• Apply effective nonverbal communication while speaking
• Develop a professional narrative
• Effectively use technology such as Zoom or Google Meet to deliver virtual speeches

"This class was everything that I needed but didn't know that I needed."

-d'Arquoia Connor, TV Host | On Air Talent | Actress | Speaker | Entrepreneur

The course includes:

• Expert LIVE virtual instruction and coaching with me, expert communicator Gino Perrotte, M.A.
• 9 weeks of customized curriculum
• Small class size
• 5 individual speaking activities + 2 group speaking activities
• Individual one-on-one coaching session
• Mastering 6 core interpersonal soft skills

I'd love to help you master your virtual public speaking skills. Class begins February 6, 2022.

Click here to learn more, view curriculum, and enroll.

About this newsletter:

Conscious communication is a tool that connects us to ourselves and to others in meaningful ways. As with any tool, the more skillful we are at using it, the better the results we achieve. Communication is an important tool because when we do it well it leads to better relationships.

For more than 20 years, I’ve worked with thousands of people from all over the world to increase their consciousness and improve their business communication and public speaking skills so that they can get to the good stuff in life, faster.

So, my goal with this monthly newsletter is to share my expertise in the field of interpersonal communication as a leader, award-winning educator, and coach who helps people transform their work and lives through conscious communication.