Vicki Anderson

My brother sent me an article written several years ago about the need for an evolving language within an organization when it is in the midst of change. I found it relevant for today and thought how hard it is for organizations to change their language. Language is all about what’s acceptable and what’s not. It’s how we relate to each other. When in times of change, we try to explain the new in terms of the old and come up short. The need for keeping an open mind to the language of the future is what keeps you on the cutting edge. But it is also hard.

As leaders, it is especially important to be open-minded to listen for the change in language that comes with changing customer needs, worker needs, and business needs. We must be able to help those we lead find a safe way to bring up questions that have never before been asked. This is difficult in times of minor change, but almost insurmountable in times of great change. It should not be an affront to our egos not to know the answers. It should give us pause to wonder what else we should ask.