My current read is "Love & Profit: The Art of Caring Leadership" by James
A. Autry
(http://www.amazon.com/Love-Profit-Art-Caring-Leadership/dp/0380717492).
This book, written in 1991, talks about the need to transition from
'command and control' leadership to a more hands-on caring leadership
style.
One section which caught my eye was on the use of familiar metaphors which
served little or no purpose to someone who did not understand them. Leaders
or managers would dig into their personal lives and personal interests and
pull out quotes from those interests to help motivate their staff and teams.
The challenge with using favorite metaphors is that not everyone will know
what you are saying. Remember my message on different acronyms and idioms
found in all different industries and how these words and abbreviations
breed confusion. It is similar here.
If we are a football fan, we say things like 'do an inside charge' or 'go
long' or 'throw a Hail Mary', etc. When we want to encourage someone, we
can tell them to 'grab the bull by the horns' or in other words, 'slam
it'. In the end, what we are trying to convey is to 'roll up our sleeves'
and 'dive into the problem' and ultimately 'have at it'.
It can get so confusing from all the different metaphors from all the
different genres and that is not the worst of it.
We love reciting lines from our favorite TV shows. Something catchy is said
in a show and next thing you know, it part of our culture. Some of the more
famous lines are from shows like 'Seinfeld' like 'Yada yada yada.'
Another classis is 'It ain't over until the fat lady sings' coined by Dan
Cook, NBA sportscaster, said it over the airwaves in 1978.
Why do we say them?
Its fun and WE know what they mean when we say them.
The challenge is that our audience may give us the eye's glazed over look
as the witty metaphor sails over their head and down the street.
The solution, according to James Autry, is say what you mean. Use your own
words.
Less fun, yes, more easily understood? Absolutely!
Enjoy!
Sanford Berenberg
Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net
http://learnandgrowdaily.com ←-Click here to order: "Learn And Grow Daily!"
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