When we study leadership, we are studying the science of how leaders influence other people to achieve the goals of the organization. Communication is a core function of how leaders influence individuals, teams, and the organization to achieve its goals. Albert Mehrabian, a researcher of body language, who first broke down the components of a face-to-face conversation found that communication is 55% nonverbal, 38% vocal, and 7% words only. (Mehrabian, 1972) But the seven percent can have an enormous impact on many people and events just by the words that are used, and by whom, especially if they are in a position of leadership.
There is a substantial difference in weight if people at various levels of positional authority say the same thing, or people with different “power bases” say he same thing, so you’ll need to be careful of the words you use, and how much weight they have. What is meant by the “weight of the words” is the impact, importance, or substance given the content or subject of the actual statements.
Let’s demonstrate how this works with a comparison between a new (six-month) “bottom of the hierarchical org chart” employee, and the company C.E.O. in the same organization, who each feel a specific company policy is not good. The six-month employee says: “This policy doesn’t make sense, it is ridiculous.” The employee shares this opinion with their new supervisor and the supervisor responds, “That policy has been in the company for years, that’s just the way it is, you’ll have to learn about how we do things here.” Realistically, who in the company will give much weight to the new employee’s comments based on her/his longevity or position in the company? Is it likely the comment about the policy will be dismissed by their supervisor, or others? But what about if a person with much more positional authority or power makes the same statement?
Let’s say the CEO of the company made the exact same statement, saying, “This policy doesn’t make sense, it is ridiculous.” Remember this is the exact statement made by the six-month, lowest level employee. First, do you think people would listen to what the CEO says? Of course they would. Then what action would the CEO’s direct reports take based on her statement? Someone close to the CEO would most likely take this as a need to make changes and do whatever they needed to for the CEO to not think it doesn’t make sense or is ridiculous. The policy may even be removed.
While conducting research in 2015, and interviewing fifteen police chiefs about communication, the theme of the weight of the communication was identified. While giving input, some of the chiefs spoke about the “weight” of the information they were getting and giving. By speaking about the “weight” of the information communicated, the chiefs were talking about how much impact, substance, and/or importance the information has. Several chiefs acknowledged that their words somehow gained more “weight” because of their title and positional power. One chief said, “The things that a police chief says… it’s like the most important thing in the world, so when you speak it will carry weight.”
Another factor that was discussed by the Chiefs was the recognition of rumors, and how they sometimes can be perceived more important than the truth…one chief commented, “Because rumor has as much weight as fact.” One of the chiefs said that it is difficult to just ask people to trust him given the current climate today in the law enforcement profession, “…the weight of the information, whether real or rumored, needs to be considered,” conceding that much of the weight of the information is from the words themselves (Fuzie, 2016).
Now consider the impact to a child if a beloved (supposed to be trusted) relative or teacher, or coach, someone who is valued by the child as being particularly important and significant (a referent-type leader), and that person says something like, “You’re such a moron, or quit being so stupid!” How much weight (power) do those words have on that child? With the child most likely relying on that person for some physiological, social, familial, or belonging needs, also now has some fear of those needs not being met.
Dr. Albert Bandura, one of the most current preeminent behaviorists says that people are influenced by observation and experience (observational learning), and the principle influencer are those who are significant to us (Bandura, 2014). So, if a beloved relative or teacher, or coach, someone who is revered by a child is using words without considering their impact, imagine how much damage those words can inflict. Conversely, just think of the positive influence the right words, said by such an influence may have? Which would you rather have happen to you or others whom you care about? Would it be any different for a supervisor, trainer, or organizational leader?
The application here for leadership is that the words themselves may seem harmless or mild, but you should consider the weight attached to those words from several perspectives. First, the powerbase of the information sender. If the sender has legitimate (positional) power, then depending how high up the positional leader is may add more weight to the words themselves because the people in power are supposed to be leading us. If the information sender has some reward power, then there is a creation of the expected reward and an “enticement” created and the words may have more weight or importance depending on what the receiver values. If the information sender has the ability to use coercive (punishment) power, then the receiver might add weight to the message of the words to avoid the punishment. If the information sender is considered an expert, then it is perceived to be more correct or accurate based on the credentials of the expert. Then of course we have the referent (respect) power base. If the sender is someone you respect or revere, then the information means more to you based on the perceived relationship.
If the weight of the words is misperceived or miscalculated, then the following actions, inactions, or pursuant feelings associated with those words may take on a different meaning or different level of importance, than what was originally intended. Communication is not successful unless the intended meaning is received by the intended recipient, and the weight of the words may change the intended meaning or importance.
What does this mean for us as leaders and leaderologists? Those who study and practice the science of leadership know that communication is the conduit of the influence for individuals, teams, and the entire organization. Although words make up only seven percent of the communication process, their meaning, and the weight assigned to that meaning can be very influential in either positive or negative ways, regardless of whether it is truth or rumor. So, before leaders just go spouting off with some information, or just say what they think/feel, they must consider the words that are used, the meaning of those words, and especially the weight or potential impact those words may have at every level of the organization.
Author(s): Dr. Chris Fuzie
Board Insights | Open Source
Published Online: 2023 May – All Rights Reserved.
APA Citation: Fuzie, C. (2023, May 30). Why Leaderologists Evaluate the Weight of a Leader’s Words. The Journal of Leaderology and Applied Leadership. https://jala.nlainfo.org/why-leaderologists-evaluate-the-weight-of-a-leaders-words/
References:
Bandura, A. (2014). Social cognitive theory of moral thought and action. In Handbook of moral behavior and development (pp. 69-128). Psychology press.
Fuzie, C. M. (2016). A qualitative study to discover and describe common ground strategies used by exemplar law enforcement leaders to proactively transform and resolve conflict as they attempt to shape the future (Doctoral dissertation, Brandman University).
Mehrabian, A. (1972). Nonverbal Communication. New Brunswick: Aldine Transaction.