Taking Responsibility for Our Tone of Voice

Posted by Ann Deaton Share Your Voice

I was going to write a different blog today as we enter the new year and share our new intentions. But I'm too sad to pen the blog I was thinking about writing. Many of us were saddened yesterday to learn of Congresswomen Gabby Giffords being shot in Arizona as she met with her constituents. I was not the only one who wondered whether the tone of our political rhetoric in America was partly responsible. Did the negativity about government and criticism of political leaders that is so common in our homes and in the media poison the young man (22 years old) who did the actual shooting? Was it unclear to him that our disagreement was about issues, and not hatred of one another? Will this event enable us to take a deep look at how we disagree with one another, and learn to do it better?

I hope so, because while doctors believe that Congresswoman Giffords will probably survive the shooting, six others will not:

-a 9 year old attending the event in order to prepare herself for her new role in student government at her elementary school

-three men and women in their 70s, perhaps attending the event to share their voices with those who represent us

-a 30 year old legislative aide soon to be married

-a federal judge who has committed his career to being of service

The loss of these six people needs to count for something. Is it a powerful enough wake-up call to enable us to improve the tone of our political process and the way we speak to and about our elected and appointed officials? Will each of us take responsibility for our tone of voice when we disagree with others so that we can differ and still have the chance to collaborate in building a better world?

Our work in Bounce is about bringing out the leader in each child, woman, and man---bringing out the best of who they are. Giffords' shooting is not a time to find out who is to blame; it is a time to envision the emotional tone we want to have in our relationships with each other and to take steps to create that positive tone. Will you make that commitment along with me? We need the gifts each of us bring to our world.

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Ann Deaton I am a leadership coach, and Managing Partner in Bounce. I love to coach and facilitate with individuals and systems experiencing significant change and growth. The clients I work with, regardless of their age or position, are talented and creative individuals willing to look with fresh eyes at their challenges and opportunities, and to take action based on their discoveries. As a result, they find that they are capable of accomplishing far greater things than they ever imagined. What do you want to accomplish today? Who do you want to be?