It’s amazing what a difference a few well-chosen and well-timed words can make.
When and how when we communicate is crucial to how we create and foster valued relationships, whether personal or in business. Managing this process is one of the cornerstones of my profession, but the importance of what we say was really brought home to me last week.
I was attending the annual Chairman’s Day at the Institute of Directors. This is the occasion when the Chairs from our many branches across the UK get together with the IoD’s senior management to debate matters of policy, direction and operations for the future.
The event began with our Director General, Miles Templeman, giving us his summation of the current state of our economy. Miles has his finger on the pulse more than most. Not only does he head an organisation representing over 43,000 company directors across the UK, he is also in regular touch with principal figures in Government, senior economists and the media.
Miles’ assessment of the data and high-ranking sentiment is that the British economy is on the mend. That’s good to hear, but he also believes we’re at a critical stage in our recovery when inopportune words have the potential to be disproportionately damaging. Reminding us of our shared responsibility as leaders of businesses in the UK, he made the point that how we talk about our economy could make a meaningful difference to the speed with which we move away from recession.
It may sound flippant, but if our economy is to be restored to health it really does need words of encouragement
What’s at stake is our economic confidence. While that is always subject to the sentiment of business and consumers, at this time it is less able to resist the knocks of worry, doubt or criticism. It may sound flippant, but if our economy is to be restored to health it really does need words of encouragement.
A case in point is the European Union's economic affairs commissioner saying that Europe must “resist alarmism” amid fears over the Irish Republic's debts. Olli Rehn felt it important enough to say that he is “concerned” about public debate on the eurozone. He knows that talking down Ireland’s economic prospects woud be bad for the Euro and bad for the broader EU.
Earlier this week David Cameron raised an old debate about Britain’s place in the world. He argued that we are not in decline and pointed out reasons to feel confident: our language, time zone, membership of the EU and UN Security Council, the City of London and our military. He clearly felt that it was worth making a positive statement (even though it might court debate to the contrary). He wants to talk up the UK, make us feel more confident, and reap the benefits of the stronger economy that should result.
I think Miles Templeman, Olli Rehn and David Cameron are right; what we choose to say does matter – now more than usual. Our recovery has begun and, to a significant extent, it is up to us to stop grumbling, start smiling, and not muck it up!
James Ollerenshaw sits on the committee of the London branch of the Institute of Directors, is chair of its Young Directors’ Forum and is managing director of Curzon PR.
Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of the Institute of Directors.
