In my first role at Walt Disney World, we had to learn a lot of lingo and codes: "Guests, Cast Members, On-Stage, Back-Stage, 101, 102, Signal 8". The choice of the lingo was designed to enhance and encourage our behavior, such as- thinking of visitors as guests we had invited into our homes... the codes were designed to communicate information that could disrupt or discourage our Guests- a 101 was a ride or attraction that was not operating.

Disney taught me to frame positive requests out of demands: "Sir, we'd like for you to finish your popcorn before you come inside."

There was a lot of communicating... to Guests, fellow Cast Members, Managers. We had weekly meetings that lasted about an hour. Efficient and yet pervasive communication.

Still, some of the most valuable communicating skills learned were

the use of inclusive language- "we, our",
listening without interrupting,
asking questions to clarify and seek understanding.

Great Leaders are great communicators. We care about people. We know "HOW" we say something is often more important than what we say. We are students of people and communication. Think about a Leader in your own life who impacted you directly through communication. What was said or share? How was it delivered and received? Think about how constructive or positive that person was. Consider finding them this week and letting them know.

In one of our workshops, we hand out a compass to remind Leaders- "A Leader Always Knows Were We Are Headed (even IF it's only the next few steps). As followers of Christ we are to direct people to Him as the one Hope for our desperate world...and sometimes that means re-crafting or re-framing our words and listening with both our ears and our hearts.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)