7 Words Concepts

Vision is an horizon of the imagination.

Consider this...

"You can't shake hands with a clenched fist."

7 Words Works!

7 words can develop in us a mastery of communication that enables us to focus our minds, to speak our truth, and to thrive in all our business relationships. Soon we find ourselves being more effective in all areas of life, as we come to experience an impeccable sense of what is happening and what is needed in any situation—from self-awareness to business efficiency, from career guidance to management  training—because the system is universally applicable.

Benefits can be gained from applying 7 Words in all the following areas and many other aspects of work and career development:

•         Task Management
•         Authentic Communication
•         Human Resources
•         Decision Making
•         Change Management
•         Understanding Dysfunction
•         Making Meetings More Effective

Words have power. They are used to begin projects by bringing thoughts into a form that can be identified, handled, debated and agreed upon. With words people can be persuaded of anything. Is it our purpose, when communicating, to deceive—or is it to develop a true and deeper understanding? Although it is thought and affirmed that it is normal social behaviour to convey good and useful information, that to lie is immoral and in certain circumstances criminal, nevertheless our use of language gives plenty of evidence of a stronger impulse—to cover the facts with words that do not tell it as it is.

Acceptance or agreement?
So what of this phenomenon—which we’ll call ‘wordbending’?  In some cases there is artistic merit or symbolic significance in the employment of a word or phrase that does not literally point to its true meaning and this makes a valuable contribution to the beauty of a language. As an example: ‘raining cats and dogs’ has no intention to deceive; the metaphor is rather colourful and innocent.  There is also the idea of ‘variety use’ that suggests it is entirely normal for people to employ words with ‘artful ambiguity’ in order to promote a softer exchange of information, where non-verbal communication is of greater consequence and both parties are aware of the subtle uncertainty they are leaving in the air. Courtship is full of this. Wordbending in business is perhaps less useful.

The 7 Words System is a tried and tested business model, derived from two systems, one ancient and one modern. The fundamental principles come from Sufism; the  language and mental patterns are strongly influenced by Neuro Linguistic Programming.  It is also an innovative management philosophy based on what is basic, stable and true. It is harmonious with other people, other companies and organisations, environmental considerations and spiritual principles.
   
The model begins with the assertion that every communication and behaviour can be understood as an expression of one of these 7 primary words:

            No       Hello       Thanks      Goodbye       Please       Sorry        Yes

—and that many endeavours are flawed because of the failure to appreciate the need to address each and every one of these seven aspects in all situations. Also, many messages are significantly misunderstood partly because we have no common agreement about what these 7 primary words actually mean. By studying these simple ideas, we can reduce two of the most significant and prevalent obstacles to success at work and in business management: errors of omission and communication blunders.

The 21st century is still young, and yet during the first few years we have seen radical shifts in our collective perception of how the world is, as the Internet, e-mails, mobile phones, texting, e-commerce and other 20th century developments become common. The world is a different place now with ever increasing awareness about global warming, genetic engineering, oil scarcity and India and China’s industrial development; it is changing very fast. In such circumstances, it is best to establish a firm foundation for how we choose to act, and how we make decisions—because we want to know how best to respond to unpredictable changes. The 7 Words System offers a model and framework for our responses.

The moral climate of humanity is going through changes as major as the changes in climate. Things that were permissible a few decades ago are seriously censured today—and vice versa—for example, sexual and racial abuse, religious intolerance and so on. This affects business. It is inevitable that laws will be passed to protect people and the environment as climate changes worsen. Management requires us to expect the unexpected and manage it masterfully.

You may find the idea of 7 Words challenging, perhaps offensive, occasionally startling, even inspiring. There’s a lot involved in turning a situation around and—at least from one perspective—it begins and ends with you! To change your circumstances, you need to change yourself. This can be simply learning new skills, new understandings, and new approaches—and yet it will, in the end, require a change of perception, a change of self-image and a marked degree of letting go of limitations in thinking.

No establishes the boundary marker between inside and outside, acceptable or not, mine or not-mine. This boundary clearly identifies things as different from other things and it is constructively created out of our choices—since we have free will—which proclaim the truth of who we are.

Hello is an expansion of attention, an opening up to the new so that exchanges can take place. In its most refined form it leads to communion with another.

Thanks is appreciation for another thing or person, which raises their value, is expressed by giving and is truly felt in the heart.

Goodbye begins with the realization that a decision is needed so that we can complete what we have been doing and move on.

Please requires a vision of something we want and the intention to get it, which inevitably involves cooperation. At its highest level it is prayer.

Sorry is the process of refinement that begins with a heightened sense of responsibility and a feeling of remorse for what our insensitivities have caused. We need to repair the damage if we are to release any issues arising.

Yes when reluctant, is permission which moves through stages of greater willingness in acceptance, agreement and surrender.

In other words ...

First there is No. Without a rejection of the status quo, nothing moves, because otherwise all is acceptable and no motivation arises.
The opening out that follows is Hello. Hello to new things, new people, new ideas—all energised by curiosity.
It is entirely natural to have preferences and to appreciate certain of these new experiences as of more value; this is Thanks.
Nothing lasts for long, and we move away, even from things we love—Goodbye.
The reason we do this, is because we have a vision of a better life and seek the cooperation of others to get it. That’s where Please comes in.
In doing our own thing, we impact upon others, and occasionally this can be inconvenient or even painful for them—so they may block us. Until we say Sorry.
For all our clear intentions, for all our dreams—we end up getting whatever life puts our way, which is always different from what we expect, and we have to accept that, like it or not, we need to learn to say Yes.

Thus the cycle of life—whether personal or business—unfolds from No to Yes

Applied to work:

No is about
            Boundaries     Identity     Choice     Truth
It is by what we exclude that we define ourselves—we are described by what’s left after we have refused the unacceptable. Legal structures deny us certain possibilities by making them illegal—anything so denied is therefore the defining boundary of our corporate structure. The name we use immediately casts aside 99% of all possibilities—the Auckland Hells Angels do not trade in commodity futures anymore than does the Frome over ’60’s Club encourage all-night raves.  Further, by refusing sloppy standards, we choose efficiency; by refusing to offer certain services, we specialize. Lastly the exact circumstances of our situation represent the incontestable truth of who and what we are. This is the purpose of saying No—to identify the truth of who we are, it is fundamental, and establishes firm ground upon which to build.

Hello is about
            Attention  Openness  Exchange  Communion
The way in which we interact with others is of paramount importance in any corporate activity and Hello tells us all about this—it’s to do with our connections with the social environment: the things we attend to, our willingness and skill in opening up to the new, the social qualities we bring into the way we do business and the degree of intimacy we are able to develop with others. Communication and understanding are primary tools for corporate success, and there are many courses available to help us develop the skills and attitudes to improve these tools. Hello asks us: Are we willing to learn how to interact meaningfully and profitably with others?

Thanks is about
            Appreciation  Valuing  Giving  Heart Essence
We may need to remind ourselves that, although a company has its beingness defined independently of people, it is simply a useful structure by which human endeavour can be directed and efficiently employed. Therefore feelings and values that are important to us personally need to find healthy expression in corporate frameworks. This means allowing—sometimes at cost to black-and-white, short-term profitability—that people and their human values are worth investing in.  If not—then how can we claim any moral high ground when we compare ourselves to animals or Nazis? And indeed how can we expect to attract and retain staff.

Goodbye is about
            Realization Appreciation Completion Moving On
In business, when the status quo is unacceptable, we have to realize this in detail then decide how best to move forward from this awareness. It is most important to tidy up the loose ends of any and all situations by being diligent in completing what we have begun, so that we are free to respond appropriately when circumstances around us force us to move into new ways of working.

Please is about
            Vision     Intention     Cooperation     Prayer
Here we take it all up a level. There are aspects of Please that are routine—getting people to do what you want—whether applied by a manager or by a salesman. Yet the more profound context in which this is applied is to do with raising the corporate profile in pursuance of its greatest purpose. We need to imagine exactly how the world can be a better place, and affirm that we figure rather importantly in bringing that about. It is the assertion of a better future shared with all of our customers, suppliers and other working associates. It requires a little more faith in people than perhaps we are used to applying in corporate realms.

Sorry is about
            Responsibility    Remorse    Repair    Release
This is the one thing noticeably absent from the skill sets of most politicians and executives. It is to do with the development of maturity, doing the right thing, refinement of character, dignity and nobility. We have to be somewhat cautious that our assertiveness is not unduly harmful to another and that, if we do step on a few toes, we need to learn how to soften the pain and make amends wherever possible. Corporate activity should not be allowed to denigrate human values or avoid personal responsibility. Our civilization, our very humanity depends upon accountability.

Yes is about
            Permission Acceptance Agreement Surrender
However much we know about what has worked in the past and what works now, the future has its own ideas and, for all our powerful controls, we are subject to forces that none can master. We need to allow that there are some things we cannot do, some authorities that will not bend, some powers greater than ours. These present themselves as retirement, death, illness, insolvency and loss—which are also part of the equation of corporate life. When they come, we can only resign ourselves to go along with the flow—to surf the waves of change and try to keep on the board.

If you have enjoyed this brief summary of 7 Words and would like to know more about how it can be applied in detail to improve relationships and other aspects of life in general...

..further information and suggestions are available in the form of free questionnaires, reports, eBooks and other study material...

and for even more detailed explanations and examples of 7 Words applications, try the workbook: 7 Words Principles and Practices.