I sometimes think we fail to recognize the power of words. Words flow freely from our lips. Words splash across the pages of memos, emails, and training documents. Words are everywhere, but I think, sometimes we take a line of sequenced letters for granted.
Yesterday, someone told me they are sometimes confused with our document management "language." This someone is a very intelligent and well-respected member of our team. She told me when she goes to conferences or speaks with the "experts" big words float indiscriminately without regard to the listeners understanding. I've noticed a lot of this word arrogance lately. It seems like the more technical knowledge we gain the more temptation we have to use words as way of propping up our confidence. Other times, we innocently speak a speical language forgetting the speed of knowledge absorption often lags behind.
Twenty years ago our pool of words were stationary in time. New words entered the vernacular slowly, and we had time to learn their meaning. Today, words pour into conversations from every direction. It's hard for even the most intelligent to keep up.
Words may show a man's wit, but actions his meaning. [Benjamin Franklin]
Sixth grade is where my love for words began. My admiration coincided with a failing grade on a vocabulary test. My father helped me find this love during a parental tirade that included some R-rated words shared at high volumes. Since then, I've paid special attention to words. Unfortunately, just when I think I've attained a new level of word mastery; a new word enters my world. Some new arrivals include Spiff, Sudoku, Ghostriding, Grey Literature, or my favorite new word iPhone.
The power of words can move our industry or bog us down in mire of complexity. For those of us on the edge of technology, it is important that build an awareness for the words we push into conversations. Words can create vision, clarity, and focus or words can lead us down a path of confusion, ambiguity, and irrelevance.
Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
[Unknown]