Change Your Words, Change Your Perspective

When I was researching what to write for my new website, I
came across examples of how people present themselves
differently to how we might think.

For example, Tesco's doesn't call itself a supplier but
rather 'a buyer on behalf of our customers.'  That small
difference in words is a major difference in perspective -
it changes from pushing people to accept what you offer to
pulling people towards you because you have what they want.

Harley Davidson's senior executives describe their job as
"selling to 43-year-old accountants the ability to dress in
leather, ride through small towns and have people be afraid
of them." That changes the angle slightly of someone just
selling 'cool' bikes, doesn't it? And it's so true!

Another company operating in the US as a computer support
and repair service, calls itself The Geek Squad. It has its
employees dress up as indomitable comic book heroes, and
inspires confidence in the customers whose computers it has
come to repair. Their 'agents' have the mission to "seek out
and destroy villainous computer activity".  It sounds like
it must be fun to work there. Compare that to a similar
company that promises 'quality repair technicians offering a
reputable service at a reasonable price' - it doesn't have
quite the same ring, does it?

A friend of mine wasn't particularly enjoying his job but
needed the money and felt he had to stay on for at least
another 12 months. So he decided to call his salary cheque
his 'freedom fund' and just by doing that, he changed his
whole attitude to his job (he still didn't like it (!) but
it wasn't so bad any more as it was giving him the means to
add to his freedom fund and ultimately escape, which I'm
pleased to say he did).

As for me, instead of the 'training consultant and
performance coach' I once was, I am now calling myself 'a
translator' (I do happen to be a linguist but that's not
what I mean) - I translate the so-called soft people skills
into hard business results*. Now I mean business!

So what words could you change in your life to add meaning,
change perspective, have more fun? How about saying 'TGIM'
instead of 'TGIF' for starters and notice what happens to
your Mondays from now on?

* The analogy of 'translator' comes from Tony Highland of
Barclays Bank.

Barbara Buffton was a qualified careers adviser
who one day decided to take her own advice
and change her career! She has had four books
published, including Follow Your Dream. Check out her website www.people-developers.com for more information.