The Importance of Kind Language at Work

Inspired by a recent post from productivity expert and keynote speaker Graham Allcott

When you pause and really listen to the language used in workplaces, it can be startling.
We “rally the troops”, “take the flak”, “fight fires”, “make a killing”, and operate “in the trenches”.

All of this, while simply trying to do good work with other human beings.

Graham Allcott — bestselling author, productivity thinker and one of the UK’s leading voices on modern work — recently shared a reflection on this. He highlighted how easily we slip into warfare metaphors at work, and how profoundly those metaphors shape the way we behave, communicate and collaborate.

His message is simple but powerful:
If we want kinder, calmer workplaces, we must start with the words we choose.

Language Shapes Culture More Than We Realise

It’s easy to underestimate the role language plays in workplace culture.
Words can invite collaboration… or trigger defensiveness. They can create psychological safety… or establish hierarchy. They can calm a team… or quietly raise their stress levels.

When we frame work as a battle, we unconsciously encourage tension, urgency and a sense of scarcity.
When we choose clarity, kindness and plain language, we create ease.

And ease, as Graham puts it, is where real thinking happens.
It’s where people make better decisions, trust one another more deeply, and contribute with confidence rather than fear.

Kindness Isn’t “Soft”. It’s a Productivity Strategy.

One of Graham’s most compelling ideas is that kindness and clarity aren’t opposites of productivity — they are the foundations of it.

A kinder workplace:

• Reduces friction and conflict
• Improves communication and decision-making
• Builds trust
• Helps people regulate stress
• Encourages creativity and proactive problem-solving

In other words, kinder cultures get more done, not less.
They create the conditions where people feel safe enough to think clearly, speak honestly and do their best work.

Why Graham’s Message Is Resonating With Organisations Today

Hybrid teams, burnout and constant change have become the norm. So many organisations are asking a big question:

How do we create a workplace where people can thrive, not just cope?

This is where Graham’s work is so valuable.

He takes something that sounds deceptively simple — kindness — and shows leaders how it translates into:

• clearer communication
• better collaboration
• improved wellbeing
• more thoughtful decision-making
• healthier, more resilient teams

His sessions help teams understand how their everyday behaviours and language affect performance, and what they can do to build cultures of “quiet power” — the calm, focused energy that enables real results.

Why Bring Graham Into Your Workplace?

Graham has a rare ability to make people stop, reflect and rethink how they show up at work. He blends humour, behavioural insight and practical tools that teams can implement immediately.

Organisations book him because he offers:

• A fresh way to look at culture — starting with language and habits everyone recognises
• Real-world takeaways — small changes that create meaningful shifts in team dynamics
• A calm, engaging style — he disarms an audience not with intensity, but with clarity
• A message that strengthens leadership — especially in times of pressure or change

His talks don’t just inspire people for an hour.
They shift the way teams relate to one another and communicate with each other long after the session ends.

Book Graham Allcott to speak to your team today by contacting The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com