“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1
In an era where keyboards clatter incessantly and social media platforms serve as digital soapboxes for the masses, the potency of words has never been more evident. From the trivial to the tremendous, every utterance holds the potential to shape destinies, alter perceptions, and even spark global controversies. The adage “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” seems more like a flimsy shield against the barrage of verbal projectiles launched daily on the battlefield of discourse. But perhaps there’s a grain of truth to it, buried under layers of societal conditioning and self-defence mechanisms.
In the grand scheme of cosmic justice, it appears that every careless word carries a weight far heavier than the mere impact it has on the ears of its recipients. And when these words are marinated in different kinds of unpleasant tones and dished out to be consumed by the ears, they can scar a heart and mind for the rest of life. As the scriptures warn, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36–37). Suddenly, that throwaway comment in the office break room or that hasty tweet fired off in the heat of the moment takes on a gravitas that can’t be shrugged off with a casual apology. The Bhagavad-Gita, too, offers its sage advice on the matter, advocating for an “austerity of speech” that consists of words that are “truthful, pleasing, beneficial, and not agitating to others” (17.15).
But in a world where the allure of sensationalism and the temptation of trolling reign supreme, such virtuous speech seems as rare as a unicorn sighting. The Quran adds another layer to this already weighty discourse, warning believers of the consequences of their utterances: “One may utter a word that pleases Allah without giving it much importance, and because of that, Allah will raise him to high degrees of reward. Similarly, one may utter a word that displeases Allah without thinking of its significance, and because of it, he will plummet into Hellfire.”
In the court of divine justice, it seems, there are no plea bargains for verbal misconduct, no loopholes to exploit, and certainly no statute of limitations on the repercussions of our linguistic transgressions. Every syllable uttered into the ether echoes through eternity, shaping our fates in ways we can scarcely comprehend. But what about the corporate realm, you might ask? Surely, the power of words holds sway in the boardrooms and cubicle farms as much as it does in the realm of gods and prophets. Indeed, in the cutthroat world of business, where fortunes rise and fall on the whims of market trends and investor confidence, the spoken word wields a formidable influence. From the CEO’s rallying cry to the intern’s elevator pitch, every utterance carries the potential to seal deals, secure partnerships, or torpedo careers. In the high-stakes game of corporate communication, where clarity is currency and persuasion is paramount, the importance of choosing one’s words with care cannot be overstated. A poorly worded email can spark a chain reaction of misunderstandings; a hastily delivered presentation can shatter investor confidence; and a thoughtless remark in a meeting can sow seeds of discord within the ranks.
In this relentless pursuit of profit and power, the ancient wisdom of the scriptures offers a sobering reminder: “By your words, you will be acquitted, and by your words, you will be condemned.” In the court of corporate justice, as in the court of divine justice, accountability knows no bounds. So, as you wade through the perilous waters of corporate communication, let us heed the warnings of the ancients and tread lightly with our words.
In the end, it may not be the size of your portfolio or the prestige of your title that determines your success, but the eloquence and integrity with which you wield the power of speech in the pursuit of your ambitions. Choose your words wisely, dear reader, for they may well be the architects of your ascent to the corner office or the catalysts of your descent into obscurity in the unforgiving arena of corporate warfare. Randall Wright rightly asks, “Have you ever stopped to consider the power of words? Through mere words, wars have started and ended. Tender feelings have been hurt and soothed. Courage has been instilled, and fear has been implanted. Lives have been destroyed, and others have changed for the better. Think back on your own life when words have hurt you deeply or have comforted and given you strength and hope to do better.”
By Dr. Srabani Basu, Associate Professor, Dept. of Literature and Languages, SRM University (AP).
