My philosophy on leadership and communication is that they are inextricably linked. One can not exist without the other. Having served 18 years in the Navy, as both an Entry level E-1 enlisted to my current rank of field grade officer, O-4, I am a firm believer in leadership being based on the consent of the follower. Unless the leader can compell followers to follow them they can achieve nothing. Leadership is not something gained through the assignment or through receipt of a title. It is based on the relationship of trust -which is superficial at first – most followers will give you the benefit of the doubt figuring that it will be interesting at the least and actually beneficial and productive at its very best. But with each step forward, each interaction and with each decision point the true character and intentions of the leader is reveiled. These decision points and actions will prove to either endear or diminish the leader’s standing in the eyes of their subordinates.

Proverbs 18:21 states, “Life and Death are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” John Gill provides a very insightful commentary to this verse which clarifies the importance of speech. He states,

          “Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue Of witnesses, according to the  testimony they bear; of judges, according to the sentence they pass; of teachers, according to the doctrine they preach; of all men, who, by their well or ill speaking, bring death or life to themselves and others. Some, by their tongues, by the too free use of them, or falsehood they utter, are the cause of death to themselves and others; and some, by their silence, or by their prudent speech and prevalent intercession, secure or obtain life for themselves and others; yea, judgment at the last day will proceed according to a man’s words, “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”, ( Matthew 12:37 ) ; the tongue is the instrument either of a great deal of good, or of a great deal of evil;

          and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof; that delight to be talkative; that love to use the tongue, whether in a good or in a bad way, shall accordingly be recompensed; shall enjoy the advantages or disadvantages arising from it.”

Communication in and of itself is a powerful instrument but the postion of leader gives one’s words an additional degree of force and impact. I believe it is paramount that I as a leader always speak life into myself, into those I work with, and into my projects and aspirations.