Transforming Outcomes Through Language - When Words Change, the World Changes🌹

　Have you ever found yourself feeling uncertain about whether your team will follow your lead when you take on a critical project leadership role within your organization?

It’s widely recognized that successful projects require strong leadership—characterized by enthusiasm, a results-driven mindset, and a clear vision.

However, project leadership is not just about technical skills or strategic planning; the language we use can significantly impact the way we lead and influence others.

For over 12 years, I have been conducting seminars on enhancing project leadership. Recently, I came across a book that provided a powerful new perspective: The Surrender Theory by Yuki Takamori.

The author, a former professional baseball player for DeNA, had a humbling experience—throughout his career, he only managed to hit a single professional-level hit.

The Surrender Theory by Yuki Takamori

Rather than seeing this as a failure, he transformed his experience into valuable lessons in leadership and personal development, now working as a business coach.

One particular section of the book (page 102) resonated deeply with me: "Change your words, and your world changes." This insight is directly applicable to project leadership, highlighting the power of language in driving successful initiatives.

#project #leadership

---

💦Before: Common Language Pitfalls in the Workplace

Many professionals unknowingly weaken their authority and leadership presence through the language they use daily. Phrases like:

■　I am committed to giving my best to ensure the success of this project.
■　My goal is to achieve the expected project outcomes.
■　It’s time to start preparing for the project.
■　Let’s take the first step and get started.
■　Would it be possible to propose an intensive two-day workshop for focused discussions?
■　Since the project has been delayed, would it be feasible to extend the timeline by one month?
■　I wasn't able to prepare as thoroughly as I had hoped, so I’m not entirely confident in the results.
■　I’ve put together a report—please take a look.
■　Here are some materials for your review.

pitfalls expressions from the book "The Surrender Theory by Yuki Takamori"

These expressions often stem from a lack of confidence or a subconscious attempt to avoid taking full responsibility. While they may seem harmless, they dilute your leadership presence and project credibility. e.g.,

• "I think..."

• "I’d like to..."

• "Is it okay if...?"

• "Just a little..."

• "For now..."

What if we eliminated these hedging phrases and adopted a more decisive communication style? The impact on project success and leadership effectiveness would be profound.

---

🎈After: How Successful Project Leaders Communicate

Having led and consulted on over 90 diverse projects, I have observed a common trait among successful project leaders: the clarity and confidence in their speech. Instead of vague, non-committal phrases, they use statements that demonstrate ownership and determination, such as:

■　I am fully committed to making this project a success and will give it my best effort.
■　Our objective is to achieve the expected project outcomes.
■　Starting now, I will begin preparing for the project.
■　Let’s take action and get things moving.
■　I propose holding an intensive two-day workshop for focused discussions.
■　Unfortunately, the project has been delayed.
■　I wasn’t able to prepare as thoroughly as I wanted, so I’m not entirely confident in the results.
■　I have put together a comprehensive report—please take a look.
■　Please review the attached materials.

successful communicate from the book "The Surrender Theory by Yuki Takamori"

The difference is striking. These leaders project confidence, instill trust, and inspire action within their teams.

• "We will complete this by the deadline."

• "This is the best approach."

• "Let's move forward with this plan."

• "I take full responsibility."

---

🌹The Key to Driving Projects Forward

Page 107 of The Surrender Theory reveals a fundamental truth:

"You can change your words immediately."

This realization offers an actionable framework for enhancing project leadership through deliberate language choices. Below are five key principles to adopt:

✅ Speak with conviction – Structure statements with clear subject-verb alignment, similar to English: "I went to the Kyoto zoo"

✅ Eliminate ambiguity – Avoid indecisive language like "Which do you think is better?" Instead, say "This is the better option."

■　By eliminating phrases like "I think" from everyday conversations, you suddenly take full ownership of your words.
■　Simply stating your words with conviction makes your message more powerful and impactful.
■　If you intentionally remove "I think" from your vocabulary for a certain period, you will notice that much of the ambiguity in your communication disappears.
■　At the same time, you will experience the undeniable feeling of having no room to escape.

Yuki Takamori, "Theory of Surrender: Accepting Your Imperfect Self"

✅ Stop seeking permission – Leadership requires decisive action. If you constantly seek approval, your decision-making power diminishes.

💦 On a phone call: "Hello, do you have a moment to talk?"

🙄 "If I picked up the call, it means I’m available. If I weren’t, I wouldn’t have answered. So, let’s skip that question next time."

— Yuki Takamori, "Theory of Surrender: Accepting Your Imperfect Self"

✅ Take full responsibility – Replace passive or blame-shifting phrases ("I missed the deadline" instead of "The deadline was missed."). When you own your actions, you strengthen your credibility and accountability.

"Excuse me, I accidentally dropped my spoon. Could I get a new one?"
→ "I dropped my spoon. Please bring me a new one."

The former assumes that the responsibility for the outcome lies with the world, not with oneself.

The latter operates from the standpoint that all causes reside within oneself, taking full responsibility for everything happening in the world. It does not accept events as something that merely happen to us, but rather as consequences of our own actions influencing the world around us.

— Yuki Takamori, "Theory of Surrender: Accepting Your Imperfect Self"

✅ Establish forbidden phrases – Avoid weak expressions such as "I think," "Just a little," and "For now."

Lack of confidence often leads us to unconsciously use certain phrases as an escape from responsibility.

By forming the hypothesis that such phrases are merely a reflection of a lack of commitment, I chose to eliminate them.

Once I made them off-limits, I became acutely aware of how frequently—and unconsciously—I had relied on them in daily conversations.

As I stopped using them, my words gained power and conviction.

— Yuki Takamori, "Theory of Surrender: Accepting Your Imperfect Self"

---

Summary

Reflecting on the most successful projects I have been part of — where objectives were met on time and with impact — I noticed a commonality among project leaders: an unwavering commitment to success, reflected in their words and actions.

Yuki Takamori’s "The Surrender Theory reinforced this principle", highlighting how the power of language shapes leadership effectiveness. By implementing the following five principles:

✅ Speaking with conviction
✅ Eliminating ambiguity
✅ Stopping the habit of seeking permission
✅ Taking full responsibility
✅ Establishing forbidden phrases

Aspiring project leaders and organizational managers can significantly enhance their influence and effectiveness. I will be incorporating these insights into my Project Leadership seminars to help professionals elevate their impact.

Are you ready to transform your leadership approach with the power of words?