Getting stuck in 19th century definitions
Words can carry powerful meaning. But their meaning will change. It’s inevitable
Words can carry powerful meaning. But their meaning will change. It’s inevitable.
Before the 19th century, the word “awful” meant something awe-inspiring or full of awe. Now, it just means terrible. What’s the guarantee that something said as part of a mission, strategy, goal, or project will carry the same meaning over time?
It’s impossible to prevent people from changing the meaning of things. It’s not a bad thing. That’s how things change for the better. Trying to delay the inevitable by repeating their original meaning over and over can lead to frustration and a chokehold on creativity.
Communicating the mission or strategy is essential. Not letting it evolve or change is a risk. It’s the equivalent of hanging out with someone who repeatedly corrects people about the term “awful” with the 19th-century version. That’s awful.
A way to avoid that trap is not just to repeat things but to engage with people and ask what they think it means today. The new take on a mission or strategy can be completely different – and positive.
So much innovative work is born out of ambiguity and an active dialogue about what things mean in light of new perspectives. It's where great work happens.