Leadership & Language

Sitting at an airport waiting for a plane, I thought I’d write a few thoughts I’ve had lately about leadership, language and culture.

As leaders our job is to set culture. Ministries will always be a reflection of their leadership culture, both positively & negatively.

One of the most powerful ways we can build culture is through language.

A culture is defined by it’s language. A way tribal people pass on their culture from one generation to the next is through their language. Destroy a people’s language and a culture will become weakened and eventually extinct.

A unified language, spoken, results in a strong kingdom culture. We need to be intentional about how we speak whether it be verbally, written, online or through body language. How and what we communicate can build or destroy.

In genesis 11 we read about the tower of babel. The people decided to build a tower to reach heaven. God comes down and sees the tower being built and says:

“If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” (verse 6)

Here we see the power of common language. That when people speak a common language, and understand each other, “nothing will be impossible for them”

If a leadership team can understand the power of a common language and be intentional about what they speak, anything is possible.

I love our youth leadership team. I may be a bit biased but I think they are some of the finest people on the planet. One thing we’ve made a key value as a team is being intentional about how we speak. We have some common values that we believe is the language God would have us raise this generation up with. Here are just a few:
- words that build Faith,
- words that bring hope,
- words that impart love,
- words that bring honor to God and others,
- words that add value,
- words founded in humility,
- words that bring unity,
- words based in testimony,
- words that bring encouragement,
- words that impart joy.
- words saturated in thanksgiving

Like most languages, it takes time to learn. And like most languages, we don’t always get the words correct. But we are committed to getting better and better at this language.

What is the language we are ultimately trying to speak and pass onto others?

The language of heaven.
The language of freedom.

Our heart is that the next generation would take up this language.

Hope you were blessed by this.

Benaiah