Words have
enormous power, more enormous than one tends to understand these days. In fact,
the ability to express through written and spoken word is the most important
characteristic that differentiates human beings from all other known living
creatures. Scientists hypothesize that the development of complex language was
a key to the evolution and advancement of the human race. From the spoken word
to the written word, it has been a most influential and most dynamic discovery
of human memory. Civilizations and cultures got preserved by the words as
spoken, and more importantly as written. Yet, words do good as well as bad, and
some even tend to dismiss their impact saying “these are just words”. Equally,
societies got fragmented between speakers and listeners and between writers and
readers.
Words are the
most important constituent of social relationships and business contracts. A whole
range of vows and promises as well as agreements and contracts are expressed
through words, and solely words. The traditional societies accord great
importance to the spoken word as a contract that must be honoured in letter and
spirit. The developed societies lay great store in capturing the intent,
execution and consequences in terms of long legal contracts. While there was
law and order as a function from times immemorial, there is no evidence that
the written word was vested with so much legal import as it is vested with now.
One would, therefore, imagine that words are more important than ever.
Unfortunately, however, the more legal the words became the more travesty of
justice began to be encountered in modern societies.
Word quotes
Words are so
powerful that some of them become timeless quotes, retaining their power and
relevance across generations. The great epics of various religions paint a rich
tapestry of teachings. Hinduism probably has the world’s most extensive
heritage of impactful words expressed through vedas, upanishads, epics,
keertanas, mythologies and theologies. In contemporary English, an Anonymous writer
has said so effectively: “Watch your thoughts, they become your words; Watch
your words, they become your actions, Watch your actions, they become your
habits: Watch your habits, they become your character and Watch your character,
it becomes your destiny”. Societies, doubtless, are shaped by words, and words
alone. Words by themselves are not worth the meaning unless backed by actions. Benjamin
Franklin observed “Words may show a man’s wit, but actions his meaning”. Thoughts,
without words serve no purpose, and words without action have little credibility.
Words become
more powerful when they are delivered with passion, piety and authenticity.
Words become more powerful also when they are backed by actions. Swami
Vivekananda, the great spiritual leader of India was known for his crystal
clear thinking and power packed delivery. His words ‘arise, awake, and stop not
till you achieve your goal” are some of the most stirring words ever uttered by
a leader. Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of India’s Independence, was known for his
endearingly simple thinking but he imbued the words with great power by
postulating and following non-violence and ‘satyagraha’. It is remarkable that
both the great leaders were devoted to human service, committed to remove
inequalities and promote holistic and inclusive living. Though both had different
calls of destiny, both were highly charismatic leaders who influenced countless
men with their thoughts, words and deeds in their chosen goals of spiritual
awakening and national independence, respectively.
Word deluge
Modern world is
overwhelmed by a deluge of words. Digital technologies have literally amplified
the deluge, with unbelievable expansion of social media. Legal concerns have
made words the addictive stimulants as well as fallacious solutions for a wide
range of issues that never bothered the earlier generations. The romantic whiffs
and emotional tethers of the past generations are now replaced by broken messages
that are punctuated more by smileys and emoticons rather than by wit and
sincerity. The gentleman’s understandings in business are now replaced by long
essays of constraints and consequences which are incorporated more for form than
substance. As a result, social relationships as well as business collaborations
have become more complex, less utilitarian and finally more enigmatic. With so
many meanings imputed to words, they lose their meaning. And, when words lose
meaning, life loses its essence.
When the
society is faced with a deluge of words there tends to be more promise than
performance. This is not necessarily due to any bad intentions, per se.
Promises require just words while actions require dedication, resources and
efforts. The huge gaps one sees between social aspirations and promises on one
hand and tangible goals and visible outcomes on the other can be attributed to
people not being thoughtful about promises, and circumspect about resources. When
business becomes concerned about eventualities there tends to be more unease of
doing business than ease of doing business. This is not due to escapism per se.
Eventualities require just plans which are tempting to make while outcomes
require prioritization, focus and execution. The huge gaps one sees between
business visions and aspirations on one hand and tangible transformations and
accomplishments on the other can be attributed to businessmen being carried
away by their visions and aspirations with less attention to resource and
organizational mobilization.
Life’s essence
Life’s essence
is development. Development requires collaboration. Collaboration is enabled by
trust. Trust is reinforced by credibility. Credibility is a result of promise
being in line with potential and performance being in line with promise. To complete
the loop, authentic promises must be delivered by purposive action. It is,
therefore, necessary that one must respect words one uses for their implicit
meaning and endeavour to speak what is necessary, commit what is possible and
deliver what is committed. This could be as simple as returning social visits
or fulfilling social commitments. In fact, enduring social relationships are
built when families, communities and societies stay together, and support each
other. The traditional old world is built around the cared and the caretakers
living together, and families being joint rather than fractured. When economic
development and social diffusion throw people asunder what can still retain the
bonding is the power of words on staying committed for each other.
Development’s
enabler is economic activity. Economic activity requires judicious and
productive deployment of resources. Those who can help must have both intent
and platform to help the needy. To enable this, ease of carrying out economic
activity is a must. A modern day business contract tends to have two pages of
deliverables and twenty pages of warranties, assignments, terminations and
consequences. All of them are signed off without the signing authorities not
really delving deep into the need for, and meanings of such conditions. Today,
a few companies have market capitalization greater than the GDPs of several
nations. This wealth has to create more development and must improve the conditions
of more people. A start-up cannot fly off immediately if the MCA portal does
not function for weeks. That the development of the portal is being done by
India’s iconic IT bellwether, whose new leadership is now committed to
artificial intelligence and the like, and such prolonged glitches impact the
exhortation on ease of doing business do imply that words are tending to have
less meaning in modern business.
Gift of the gab, curse of progress
With words, and
their proliferation, the ability to communicate has become a competitive
strength for leaders. From intemperate filibuster to suave oratory, the ability
to communicate is dictating the course of companies, governments, societies and
nations. Those who have the gift of the gab – an ability and aptitude to speak
fluently, glibly and persuasively – has become the hallmark of successful
leadership. Swami Vivekanda’s oratory was based on deep spiritual knowledge and
with ascetic-like renunciation of pleasures for uplift of the downtrodden.
Mahatma Gandhi’s preaching was based on selfless practice of ‘satyagraha’ and
non-violence that could galvanise a nation for inclusive, equitable and independent
life. Such leaders may have had gift of the gab but they did not need one in reality,
because their thoughts and words were backed by actions and outcomes.
When words are
spoken with an eye on carrying the day, the gift of the gab verily becomes a
curse for the society. Such approach feeds the society and economy with grand
expectations with little to show on the ground. When companies hire people with
extravagant promises, when businesses seek finances with magical returns, when
foundations are laid without marshalling resources, and when collaborations are
struck with self-serving agendas, the economic ecosystems become exploitative
and stress-prone. Regimented economies as well as democratic countries have
been unable to make meaningful progress when economic arrangements and business
contracts are made more in letter and less in spirit. From social relationships
to business contracts, the words must have meanings that are reflected in
actions; otherwise, life itself would have little essence.
Gautama Buddha said,
“However many holy words you read,
However many you speak,
What good will they do you,
If you do not act upon them?”
There can be no better insight on the importance of words than
this!
Posted by Dr CB
Rao on April 29, 2016
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