Embrace the Awkward. Change a Life.

Embrace the Power of Simple Words

Words matter. The way words are spoken matter. Our words and tone can help transform lives, communities and workplace cultures.

Our words impact the way a spouse goes home after work and engages. Are they short and abrasive at the smallest thing (dishwasher not loaded correctly!) when they arrive home or do they still have a few ounces of patience left to engage in a healthy way? (i.e. avoid passive comments)

Many years ago, I heard Curtis Barnett, CEO of Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, share that how we communicate at work impacts the way a spouse, mom, dad, coach, volunteer goes home.

Think about it this way:

Has there been a time when someone encouraged you, built you up and then you left work with an extra pep in your step? My guess is that you were more engaged, pleasant, and helpful.

Has there been a time when someone spoke harshly to you, criticized you, didn’t communicate they weren’t getting the project in on time, and you went home frustrated, irritable and well … unpleasant.

Obviously – both scenarios happen to all of us.

If for some reason the words from others have a little power over us (not saying they should, I’m just saying they do), then it is reasonable to say that our words have a little power to influence the people around us.

So, the question becomes, what do we do with this power?

A Game-Changing Email

Recently, I heard a CEO share a story about a time they were navigating stress and beating themselves up a bit. A team member many layers down in the organization, who he had not seen in many years, sent an email to him. They shared within the email the internal need to send a message of encouragement. The CEO was uplifted. A meeting was set for the next week. He decided to go down to the department to connect with that group. Once arrived, the CEO felt like that email was just the tipping point of encouragement that he needed.

A kind email can go along way …

A kind email just takes a little courage. Sometimes we feel awkward and uncomfortable to share words of kindness. Maybe that’s because we don’t do it often enough. Embrace the awkward and share some kindness.

A Game-Changing Encounter

Titus and I were navigating the busy Charlotte airport after a soccer showcase tournament in Florida. All of the sudden, I heard my name, “Michael Brown, Michael Brown”. I looked over and saw the Hershey logo on the guys shirt while I was trying to recognize the face! This guy towered over me. If I’m 5’10” on my Driver’s License, he seemed like 6’10”! He rushed over, gave a strong bro hug and went on to tell me how much the sessions he participated in through Zoom impacted his life at home and life at work. I was floored. From Zoom “squares” to real life conversations in the airport.

At that time, Titus was trying to understand what I do for a living and that encounter helped him to see some of the impact of our work. He didn’t have to chase me down, and he didn’t have to build me up in front of Titus … he didn’t have to … but he did! And, Titus and I will never forget it.

A Game-Changing Statement

Everyone boarded the plane and were patiently waiting to get going. Normally, the awkward moments on planes are generated from unruly entitled passengers, but, this time, it was from an exchange between airline personnel. Our stewardess was getting verbally assaulted from an entitled employee who was neither listening nor in the right. The captain stepped up, backed up the stewardess for not allowing a drunk passenger on the plane, and the other employee continued the tirade.

Our young stewardess handled herself with poise and kindness while doing everything right in a challenging conversation. Even though she did everything right, she was hurt, shaking a bit and fighting back the tears.

When the door closed, I spoke up to encourage the stewardess with specific things she did well in that lopsided conversation. Then, a few other passengers stepped up and spoke words of affirmation. A few tears were shed and her face lit up afterwards. It might have been the Hershey Outrageous Bar I gifted her, but I think it was the words everyone shared with her. She was a complete stranger a few moments ago, but in that moment the stranger needed a few people to speak truth into her life.

So what?

Our words impact and influence. Let’s use our words wisely. Let’s choose to help others love life at work and love life at home by simply encouraging and building up the people around us.

Embrace the awkward and change a life!