Do your words matter?

March 3-9 is Words Matter Week!

What does it mean to make words matter? Well, so glad you asked!

To matter is to have some importance, some significance. Your words are important to you and to those who will receive them. The significance of your words comes through in how you use them.

Those words you say (or write) and those you don’t all matter. Before sharing them, try to understand how your words will be received. Put yourself in the place of the human on the other end. A little time and focus can help you avoid misunderstanding and misinterpretation.

Have you ever spouted something verbally and then almost immediately said to yourself, “I shouldn’t have said that”?

Have you ever hit “send” or “post” then instantly regretted it?

Both reactions are because you do realize that your words matter. The negative messages you’ve relayed will impact the person on the other end as well as yourself (and potentially your business). Therein lies the significance of those words.

Written words, especially, are susceptible to causing confusion or misinterpretation. Text messages, emails, social media posts, and other written content don’t carry tone of voice or body language to explain the intent or emotions behind them.

Before sharing your words, stop and think. How will they matter? Some advice that can help us all: engage the brain before engaging others with words that may not exactly be the best ones to use in the moment.