Leadership is measured by impact. Not intention.

Have you ever thought about the unintended impact of your words?

I recently heard about a conversation between a manager and a relatively new team member.

The manager called her into the office and said:

"You've been a naughty girl, haven't you?"

The employee looked confused.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

The manager continued:

"The last couple of days you've arrived at 8:02 and 8:03. You're being naughty, aren't you? I know you'll say you always stay late, but we see leadership potential in you, and leaders are always the first to arrive and the last to leave."

Pause for a moment.

If you were that employee, how would you feel? Inspired? Valued? Motivated to step into a leadership role?

Or would you be questioning whether this was somewhere you wanted to work?

The employee's response wasn't, "I'll do better."

Instead, it was:

"I need to find another job. In the meantime, I'll arrive five minutes early, leave five minutes late, and stop doing all the unpaid overtime I've been willingly contributing."

The manager may have intended to encourage professionalism and accountability. Instead, the message that landed was criticism, embarrassment and a lack of appreciation.

As leaders, we often judge our communication by our intention. Our people judge it by its impact.

Before you speak, ask yourself:

"Will these words inspire the behaviour I'm hoping to see?"

Because every conversation either builds engagement... or slowly erodes it.