Craig Pisaris-Henderson

I’ve preached ‘words matter’ for nearly 3 decades since first being exposed to other cultures and languages in a team environment when I switched from American football to rugby while in college. We were made up of mostly ex football players and a few international players that had played rugby for years. Our teams effectiveness was due to our coach’s communication, but what solidified our communication was our coach’s focus on ‘syntax’. I realized the communication was critical, but had we not all agreed on the syntax/ meaning of the words, we still would have been communicating, but we would talked past each other on occasion as there are times, especially with other cultures, words AND actions can mean something completely different.

I’ve preached ‘words matter’ for nearly 3 decades since first being exposed to other cultures and languages in a team environment when I switched from American football to rugby while in college. We were made up of mostly ex football players and a few international players that had played rugby for years. Our teams effectiveness was due to our coach’s communication, but what solidified our communication was our coach’s focus on ‘syntax’. I realized the communication was critical, but had we not all agreed on the syntax/ meaning of the words, we still would have been communicating, but we would talked past each other on occasion as there are times, especially with other cultures, words AND actions can mean something completely different.

I’ve preached ‘words matter’ for nearly 3 decades since first being exposed to other cultures and languages in a team environment when I switched from American football to rugby while in college. We were made up of mostly ex football players and a few international players that had played rugby for years. Our teams effectiveness was due to our coach’s communication, but what solidified our communication was our coach’s focus on ‘syntax’. I realized the communication was critical, but had we not all agreed on the syntax/ meaning of the words, we still would have been communicating, but we would talked past each other on occasion as there are times, especially with other cultures, words AND actions can mean something completely different.

I’ve preached ‘words matter’ for nearly 3 decades since first being exposed to other cultures and languages in a team environment when I switched from American football to rugby while in college. We were made up of mostly ex football players and a few international players that had played rugby for years. Our teams effectiveness was due to our coach’s communication, but what solidified our communication was our coach’s focus on ‘syntax’. I realized the communication was critical, but had we not all agreed on the syntax/ meaning of the words, we still would have been communicating, but we would talked past each other on occasion as there are times, especially with other cultures, words AND actions can mean something completely different.

I’ve preached ‘words matter’ for nearly 3 decades since first being exposed to other cultures and languages in a team environment when I switched from American football to rugby while in college. We were made up of mostly ex football players and a few international players that had played rugby for years. Our teams effectiveness was due to our coach’s communication, but what solidified our communication was our coach’s focus on ‘syntax’. I realized the communication was critical, but had we not all agreed on the syntax/ meaning of the words, we still would have been communicating, but we would talked past each other on occasion as there are times, especially with other cultures, words AND actions can mean something completely different.

I’ve preached ‘words matter’ for nearly 3 decades since first being exposed to other cultures and languages in a team environment when I switched from American football to rugby while in college. We were made up of mostly ex football players and a few international players that had played rugby for years. Our teams effectiveness was due to our coach’s communication, but what solidified our communication was our coach’s focus on ‘syntax’. I realized the communication was critical, but had we not all agreed on the syntax/ meaning of the words, we still would have been communicating, but we would talked past each other on occasion as there are times, especially with other cultures, words AND actions can mean something completely different.