WORDS THAT CREATE WALLS — 5 Things to Know About Negative & Positive Words

Are you aware of how many negative words you use each day as you communicate? You might be surprised. You might be even more surprised at how your use of negative and positive words impacts your ability to influence others and make good impressions that lead to promotions and greater influence. As you speak, your listeners’ brains are constantly running various “software programs” that either filter your messages in — or out. So, it is important to understand how your words influence other people. <img alt="" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/1*XXX3rt2FJj2RNtKHKbbciw.jpeg" style="height:366px; width:700px" /> A multi-national <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/DyeHard/story?id=460987" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">study</a> shows that people use more negative than positive words. Across age groups, the results clearly show that people use 50% negative words, 30% positive and 20% neutral words. You do not have to go very far to realize the source of negative word patterns when you hear <a href="https://eftforpeace.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/effect-of-negative-language-on-children/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">parents correcting</a> their kids. They tend to use negative phrases like, “Stop doing that to your sister.” Or, they say, “Quit it right now.” These types of negative commands have a place in parenting, but a parent should follow up with positive language that reinforces the type of behavior they want the child to adopt. Kids learn these negative language patterns and the cycle continues. They grow up to become team members or leaders, and they carry their language patterns of negative commands into the workplace. Thus, the cycle continues with unintended results and haphazard communication skills. You can become a more effective communicator by understanding five very important things about negative and positive word choices: <a href="https://medium.com/@SGailBorden/words-that-create-walls-5-things-to-know-about-negative-positive-words-8a767269789c">Learn More</a>