I had never seen the movie “For Love of the Game” with Kevin Costner and Kelly Preston prior to this past weekend. It’s on Netflix, and I just came across it early Saturday morning. My wife and I watched it, and as we usually do, we stopped it at various times to discuss the story, acting, or something of interest.
In one scene, “Chappel” (Costner’s character) cuts his hand pretty badly on a table saw. At the time, he’s one of the top baseball pitchers in the game and his girlfriend “Jane” (Preston’s character) rushes him to the hospital in her car, nearly sliding off the snow-covered roads just to get him there quickly.
When they arrive at the busy, crowded hospital, there’s no one available to help, and because she isn’t family, she’s told to sit in the waiting room. Her frustration grows intensely, and to get the attention of ANY doctor, she angrily screams, “Is this not America? Is baseball not America’s favorite pastime?”
They all stop and look at her, and a doctor finally goes in to see Chappel. They end up airlifting him to a hospital that can better deal with his serious injury. While they’re rushing him on the gurney to the helicopter, Chappel tells Jane to “Call Mike, The Tigers trainer!” She asks, “What?” He repeats, “Call Mike – He’s the most important person to me now!” Jane appeared totally hurt and deflated.
I paused the film at this point, and my wife looked at me inquisitively, at which time I said, “What a putz! She just basically saved him, and he tells her that Mike is the most important person? What an ass!” Risa replied, “Why? I don’t get it? The trainer is the one who can really help him. What’s the problem?”
For the next 10 minutes, I tried to explain why he should’ve been more sensitive to her feelings,” and Risa was more about, “He’s lying there bleeding with a serious wound, and you want him to worry about her being a big baby and getting her feelings all hurt?”
Now, I have been married for almost fifteen years, so I gave up pretty early in the conversation, knowing that my wife is always right! My point, of course, is that words are so very powerful, and the same words can impact people in very different ways.
Words really are powerful tools that shape our reality, influence emotions, and inspire actions. Their impact is huge, whether spoken, written, or even internalized. They can encourage, diminish, build trust, or destroy it.
Our words play pivotal roles in shaping society. Just think about speeches that led to significant political change. Even today, regardless of your political affiliation, words have the power to challenge the status quo, inspire movement, bring us together, or tear us apart. Look at the manner in which we use words on social media, with little regard for the feelings of others. Many hide behind our screens and keyboards without concern for others – sometimes just for effect.
The words we use have a profound psychological impact. Positive affirmations, encouraging words, and kind expressions can boost our self-esteem and motivate us. On the other hand, negative words can create feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and fear. The words you choose have inherent power and can either nurture or undermine.
The words we use in our medium can move people. Words are the true indicator of great advertising and marketing – for great branding does not only change minds, they capture the heart! Words are the cornerstone of relationships. They express love, empathy, or frustration and can either strengthen or weaken our connections.
Loving words can create deep bonds, while a careless remark may foster lasting hurt. Our tone and intention behind words are equally as important as the words themselves. Active listening, combined with thoughtful responses, fosters understanding and trust. In conflict, our words either escalate tension or bring resolution. In this way, the power of words extends beyond their meaning to include tone, delivery, and timing.
We each must select our words carefully, based on their relative ability to not only convey thoughts but to shape perceptions, influence behavior, and foster connections. Whether spoken or written, the words we use impact the world around us.
That requires us to be mindful of the words we choose and recognize and respect their potential to inspire positive change or contribute to negativity. Ultimately, we all have the power to harness words that create a more compassionate, understanding, and thoughtful world. I recently began starting my days with a prayer I read… “Lord, allow me to see others through your eyes and likewise, see myself as you see me.”
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
Bob Lawrence writes weekly columns on radio leadership and business. He most recently served as market manager for MacDonald Broadcasting in Saginaw, Michigan. Throughout his career, Bob has held virtually every position in the business over his 40+ year career, from being on-air in Philadelphia, San Diego, and San Francisco to programming legendary stations including KHTR St. Louis, KITS Hot Hits and KIOI (K101) San Francisco to serving as the head of all programming for Saga Communications and working for the Radio Advertising Bureau. Before landing his current role, Bob helped lead Seven Mountains Media’s cluster in Parkersburg, WV/Marietta, OH. He can be reached by email at BGLawrence@me.com.
Bob also honed his research skills over ten years as Senior VP of Operations at Broadcast Architecture, eventually launching his own research company and serving as President/CEO of Pinnacle Media Worldwide for 15 years. Bob spent five years as VP of Programming for Saga Communications before joining New South Radio in Jackson, Mississippi as GM/Market Manager. Prior to joining Seven Mountains Media, Bob served as General Manager for the Radio Advertising Bureau, overseeing its “National Radio Talent System”.
