from Voilà! – The Parks Image Group Newsletter by Peggy M. Parks, AICI CIP, CPBS
Lately I´ve been reading a lot on the power of words and how they can affect our attitude. For instance, nowadays many people prefer to use phrases like “let go” or “laid off” because they aren´t as harsh or violent-sounding as “fired.” Many folks talk about work by using negative-sounding terms that can make the office seem even drearier: grind, in the weeds, backlog, deadline. Describing your job that way makes it easy to see work as a negative part of your life. What would happen if you instead opted for upbeat terms like progress, projection, goals, and collaboration? I wouldn´t be surprised if it made you feel better about your job, simply by focusing on more empowering language.
I remember a time when I was going to the gym a lot to get in shape. I called it “skinny skool,” because that reminded me of my ultimate goal and made it seem more fun. “Workout” and phrases like “no pain, no gain” just felt too negative and like, well, work. To reach my goal, I needed a shift in attitude, and it worked! My advice: Take note of the phrases you use when you talk about various aspects of your life (work, relationships, money, etc.). If you are seeing a negative pattern and need to get motivated, perhaps switching up your language can help.
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About Peggy M. Parks and The Parks Image Group
The Parks Image Group, Inc. delivers high-impact corporate image and business etiquette training to companies in the Southeastern United States. Management and employee training is an investment in building corporate credibility and staff confidence.
CEO Peggy M. Parks is Atlanta’s premiere corporate image and branding expert — available for Corporate Workshops, Public Speaking and Civility in the Workplace sessions, which are customized to have major impact for whatever you would like to accomplish. Click here to contact Peggy M. Parks by email or you may contact her by phone at 404•266•3858.