L03 : The language of Leaders

BA370

Leadership Communication Chapter 03 : The language of Leaders

This chapter introduce that in the leadership communication, we need to reflect an appropriate tone and develop a confident style because the readers assume the ethos through both of them. We must make sure that our language is clear, crisp, and meaningful.

If you are unsure and lack confidence in your writing or speaking abilities, your choice of words, your style, and your tone will reveal it . If ,on the other hand, you are confident in your ability to use the language of leaders, that confidence will resonate in your words and enhance your influence with all your targeted audiences.

One way to make your writing clear is to make it concise. Clear writing is direct, to the point, and free of jargon, pomposity, and wordy constructions.

Question 1: What are the ten guidelines that will help you achieve greater conciseness and a style that is more direct and forceful?

Answer:

1. Avoid the Overuse of the Passive Voice--The Actor Should Usually Come First in the Sentence.
2. Avoid Expletives, Such as "There Is" or "It Is"--Watch for the "It is...That" Constrcution is Particular
3. Avoid the Use of Prepositional Idioms
4. Avoid the Overuse of Relative Pronouns--"Who, "Which", and "That"
5. Avoid the Repetition of Words and Ideas.
6. Do Not Overuse Descriptive Words, Particularly Adverbs (-ly Words)
7. Avoid Weasel Words, Ambigous Noncommital Words (e.g, almost, as much as, can bem like, things, up to, feel, look, help)
8. Be Aware of Jargon (Language Used in Particular Disciplines) and Other Kinds of Gobbledygook.
9. Avoid Nominalizations (a Jargon Word Used by Linguistists That Means Turning Verbs into Nouns by Adding-tion)
10. Avoid Redundancies

Question 2: Why does punctuation matter?

Answer: It allow us to follow the complete thoughts embodied in sentences and distinguish between them. Punctuation makes reading easier and can lead to misreading if used incorrectly.

Question 3: Why sentences are important?

Answer: Because sentences convey a complete thought and sentences make a meaningful statement.