Talking Is a Waste of Time" - Or Is It?
“Talking Is a Waste of Time” - Or Is It?
How often do we hear phrases like:
“Talking is a waste of time.”
“I have too much to do to have this conversation.”
But what if I told you that talking is doing something?
Every time we speak, we take action. Our words shape, direct, and influence the world around us. Yet we often fail to see this. We tend to measure progress through visible, physical actions. In doing so, we miss an entire world of possibility.
Speaking is action.
And more than that, speaking doesn’t just describe reality; it creates it.
The reality we generate through language extends far beyond what we usually recognise.
We create reality through the meaning we make and the way we listen. This always happens in language.
We also create reality through coordination (or joint effort), working with others toward shared goals. That, too, happens only through conversation.
And if we’re not aware, our speaking can unknowingly undermine or contradict the very outcomes we’re trying to achieve through our actions.
We are often blind to how we use language and unaware of how our being (our moods, assumptions, and intentions) shapes our conversations and the results they produce.
Next time you’re tempted to skip a conversation because “you have too much to do,” pause and ask yourself:
What kind of reality am I creating or avoiding?
Reflective Questions
Where in your life have you dismissed conversations as unproductive or unnecessary?
What important actions may have been missed or delayed because a conversation didn’t happen?
What reality have your recent conversations created at work or at home?
Are there conversations working against what you’re trying to achieve?
We take up more personal and professional agency and authority when we become mindful of the power inherent in everything we say.
Until next time,
Carine
