Big words

Joy Ryan, President/CEO

I love words. The subtleties, nuances, and sometimes downright silliness in our attempts to express ourselves delight me. One thing that I have noticed lately, in at least what seems to me to be a faster pace, is an effort to find fancier and fancier ways, or to use big words, to say simple things. For example:

Use → Utilize

Help → Facilitate assistance

Improve → Enhance operational efficiency

Talk → Engage in verbal communication

Fix → Implement corrective measures

Start → Commence

End → Terminate

Idea → Conceptual framework

Need → Necessitate

A couple of weeks ago, I was at a conference on leadership in faith-based organizations. One of the speakers spent a significant portion of their podium time discussing “reputational capital.” The speaker went on at great length about the “reputational capital” of an organization, then broke it down to the person. It was presented as a riveting new concept.

I think “trust” or “integrity” already covers the topic. Doing what you will say you will do consistently so that others believe you will do it. That’s trust. That’s integrity.

Trust is the number one element of treatment for children who have experienced trauma. When a child has never known reliable safety, it is hard for them to believe that anyone will actually do what they say they will do. Much of our training for new staff is about relationship building with each child. We do that by pre-teaching what the child will experience for the day, and then rigorously holding ourselves accountable to doing exactly that. If there has to be a change, it is explained, not just with a “that’s what happens,” but with a “why.” When trust is built, treatment is effective, and resiliency and flexibility can follow.

Really, it all starts just as Jesus told us in Luke 16:10, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”

I don’t think we need to use big words to understand that.

Please keep the children and staff of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in your prayers.