Leading Through Language - Choosing Words That Influence and Inspire by Bart Egnal (US edition, hardcover) - 9781119087717

Become a more effective leader—cut the jargon and say what you mean Leveraging. Strategizing. Opening the kimono. Unlocking human capital. Trying to nail that BHAG. All on a go forward basis. These are only a few examples of the jargon-ridden language that is too often the mainstay of business communication. Jargon frustrates, confuses, and generally alienates listeners. Yet it's also everywhere, and using it can often seem like a mandatory requirement for anyone who wants to establish credibility in a professional workplace. To be an effective leader, you must be brave enough to be the first to drop jargon in favor of simple, coherent language. This can be difficult if you've spent years immersed in business culture, but Leading Through Language will show just how much you've come to rely on jargon, why it's holding you back, and how to trim it away to more effectively convey information and ideas. Understand why jargon is reviled, yet ubiquitous Learn why "business speak" gets in the way of business Discover what kind of language influences and inspires others Convey ideas with clarity, energy, and conviction Approach all communication as an act of leadership Communication often falls by the wayside in favor of more measurable data-backed performance metrics; but good communication has the power to improve metrics in every area of an organization. Leading Through Language is the business world's much-needed guide to true leadership communication, showing you how to eliminate idle talk and master compelling communication.Table of Content Preface and Acknowledgments ix Introduction xv Part I The Many Faces of Jargon Introduction to Part I: Why Does Jargon Exist and Why Should Leaders Care? 1 Chapter 1 You Must Start with Leadership 11 Chapter 2 The (Few) Benefits of Jargon 19 Chapter 3 Assumption-Driven Jargon 29 Chapter 4 Inflation Jargon 43 Chapter 5 Lack-of-Clarity Jargon 55 Chapter 6 Obfuscation Jargon 67 Part II Use the Language of Leadership Introduction to Part II: Use the Language of Leadership 77 Chapter 7 Adopt the Leader’s Mindset 83 Chapter 8 Script Yourself as a Leader 91 Chapter 9 Use the Language of Leadership 101 Chapter 10 The Language of Leadership Is .Visionary 109 The Language of Leadership Is .Audience-Centric 117 Chapter 12 The Language of Leadership Is Jargon-Free 129 Chapter 13 The Language of Leadership Is Authentic 139 Chapter 14 The Language of Leadership Is .Passionate 147 Chapter 15 The Language of Leadership Is .Confident 157 Chapter 16 The Language of Leadership Is .Positive 167 Chapter 17 The Language of Leadership Is .Direct 177 Chapter 18 The Language of Leadership Is .Concise 187 Chapter 19 The Language of Leadership Is .Professional 197 Chapter 20 The Language of Leadership Uses .Rhetori