| Of all conceived dangers, none has as much power to | | | | loss of respect for all parties affected. |
| do harm as the tongue does. | | | | There are typically three things that fan the destructive |
| Why are words so dangerous? Words have | | | | flames of gossip. The first being a self-righteous |
| tremendous power. When pre-defined, they insight | | | | individual; be it a leader or subordinate. The |
| emotions causing you to reason with seemingly | | | | self-righteous leader seeks to divide and tear others |
| compelling logic. Words can influence your opinions | | | | down creating a wedge between relationships. They |
| and behaviors, and words can manipulate beliefs and | | | | consistently see themselves as right and others as |
| behaviors forcing compliance with the wants of | | | | wrong. They claim to have integrity but their speech |
| others. But they are mostly dangerous because | | | | says otherwise. |
| once spoken they can never be taken back. | | | | The second is loose lips. There is a saying in the |
| So what do words have to do with leadership and the | | | | Navy that all sailors past and present understand to be |
| Christian Walk? Well, we are focusing on words of | | | | the golden rule while out to sea. It is, “loose lips |
| destruction. Gossip! As a Christian and as a leader | | | | sink ships!” Simply stated, it means that unguarded |
| your speech can be detrimental to your credibility and | | | | speech may give useful information, helping the enemy |
| character. | | | | to sink your ship. Which is almost always the case |
| What is gossip? If what you are saying does not | | | | when dealing with leadership; your words can come |
| edify, lift up, or unify; it is gossip. It doesn’t matter if | | | | back to sink your ship! |
| you are speaking factual truth per se. If what you | | | | The third is a receptive ear. The leader with a |
| are going to say does not edify, lift up, or unify, it is | | | | receptive ear for gossip, letting it proceed without |
| gossip. And it does not matter if you started it or if | | | | consequence is beckoning anger, discord ,and |
| you spread it, the damage is the same, the result is the | | | | dissolving any bonds of loyalty. |
| same. The result is someone being hurt and ultimately | | | | |