Power PlaySample

Have you ever heard the phrase “it’s not what you say, but how you say it”? We know it’s not just our words that can cause hurt feelings or anger, but our tone can be just as guilty. We can say the nicest compliments in the world, but our tone can easily make those words seem sarcastic, angry, or just plain rude.

Some of us hide behind saying nice things out loud but use our tone to convey them in a way that we know will hurt the other person. We’ve all made a snide remark or said something under our breath when we don’t agree with a person or situation. It's a way to show our displeasure without being outright disrespectful or rude. When we want to disagree with authority figures or those who have control in a situation, we have to be careful of the words we use and how we use them. While we may not have a choice when dealing with difficult leaders or tough conversations, we do have control over the words and sayings we choose to use.

This week, before responding to a leader or authority figure negatively, think about the words you choose to say. Are you saying what you need to say in the best way possible? Are you controlling the tone that you use?