…aka “Watch Your Language” Part 2.
This came up in our Friday band call. A couple of our newer builders were having Moments of Truth (MOTs) and as they contemplated their Productive Actions (PAs), they were subliminally saying “Yeah… I need to ________. I should _____________.”
The language you speak to yourself and your team matters. And it reveals something about your personal culture and the culture you will be passing along.
After drawing conscious attention to the subliminal & needless needling & shoulding on themselves, I shared a flashback from my learning during my BTL apprentice under L.A. aka Leader Allen aka Larry Allen.
Most “managers” (not to be confused with leaders) either bark orders to tell their teams what to do and/or tell them what they need to do or should do. If you’ve ever wondered why most teams and cultures are compliant, wonder no more — they speak the language of compliance.
L.A.’s PA taught me something different. Larry taught me leaders who are building a culture of commitment — of authentic oneness — speak a different L.A.nguage.
The L.A.nguage of leaders is “let’s _____________.” “Let’s” is powerful. “Let’s” communicates WE’re going somewhere. WE’re moving out. WE’re taking the hill. WE’re choosing this PA. And WE’re doing this together – not alone – as ALL one. One ‘L of A difference.
“Let’s” is inviting…respectful…dignifying…strong…clear…concise…direct…relational…human…even divine. Being former pastors, we were reminded it’s how in the beginning, God made humans. “Let US make man in OUR image…male & female.” (Genesis 1:26ff).
When your leadership role is subordinate to another leader, L.A. taught me an AND. Instead of “Let’s _______”, ask “Can we _______?”
“Can we?” is likewise inviting…respectful…dignifying…strong…clear…concise…direct…relational…human…humble.
If you want to build a culture of commitment and the next generation of leaders, watch your language. Learn from L.A. and speak the L.A.nguage which inspires ONEness.
Gu’d.
BUILT TO LEAD 
John,
This is strong – – – and deeply true.
Words build worlds.
Language reveals culture before culture ever becomes visible in action. What you surfaced here is something many people feel but never articulate: the difference between compliance and commitment is often just ONE WORD.
Think on that.
“Should” and “need to” carry the quiet weight of OBLIGATION. They place the burden on the individual and subtly reinforce separation – – – you go do this. That language produces compliance at best – – – resentment at worst.
But “let’s” changes the ENTIRE battlefield.
“Let’s” signals SHARED movement. SHARED responsibility. SHARED risk. SHARED victory. It communicates something EVERY human being longs for whether they know it or not: I am not alone in this.
AND you are exactly right to trace it back to Genesis. Leadership that creates oneness echoes something ancient and divine. “Let us…” is not the language of control – – – it is the language of CREATION itself. Genesis 1:26
I’ve seen the same thing in combat. The leaders men will follow anywhere never say “go.” They say “come with me.”
That difference is EVERYTHING.
Thank you and LA for calling attention to something deceptively simple that actually sits at the very heart of leadership and culture building.
The heart of leadership is the heart of the leader.
FACT.
Let’s keep building!
Love you so.
Mark 4:25