Words and emotions are imperfect tools, but they are pretty much all we’ve got to communicate with each other. In today’s post, Dean shares some thoughts about how we can do better with both of them.
Words and emotions are imperfect tools, but they are pretty much all we’ve got to communicate with each other. In today’s post, Dean shares some thoughts about how we can do better with both of them.
Here’s a simple truth about communication:
Words are imperfect.
Emotions are unclear.
And yet — great communication depends on both.
Most people lean one direction.
The “words” people:
The “emotions” people:
Neither approach is enough on its own.
Words are powerful because they are precise.
They help you:
But even the best words… are still approximations.
They imply clarity — they don’t guarantee understanding.
Emotions are powerful because they are real.
They show:
But emotions without words?
They can be vague, confusing, or misinterpreted.
Compare these two responses:
“We’ve read your proposal. We’re on board.”
Technically positive. But… how positive?
Now compare:
“We’ve read your proposal — we are on board.”
Same words. Different energy.
Now you feel it.
That’s the combination at work.
Words create structure.
Emotions create truth.
Together, they create:
Without both, something is always missing.
This gives you sharper tools.
This gives your message weight.
If you rely only on words, you risk sounding precise but empty.
If you rely only on emotion, you risk sounding real but unclear.
Great communicators do both.
They say something clearly — and they mean it.
And when those two things align?
That’s influence.
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