The Power of Framing: Creating the Language of Leadership, 2nd Edition, by Gail T. Fairhurst, an award-winning professor of communication at the University of Cincinnati, is a masterful guide to understanding the pivotal role of communication in leadership.
By exploring how leaders shape meaning and influence others through strategic language and context, the book positions framing as a critical skill for navigating complex organizational landscapes. Fairhurst argues that how a leader frames a situation—choosing what to emphasize, what to downplay, and how to position challenges—can determine how others perceive and respond to it. This act of framing is not just about persuasive rhetoric; it requires a deep understanding of context, culture, and the dynamics of power within an organization.
This book’s foundation lies in brain science and its lessons for building strong communication repertoires, controlling our ‘spontaneous’ communications, and understanding the lessons of emotional contagion in work settings,
… the author explained to SAFETY4SEA.
Fairhurst’s insights encourage leaders to see communication not as a secondary tool but as the very fabric of their leadership practice. She introduces readers to the conceptual underpinnings of framing while also providing practical tools and strategies to apply in real-world scenarios.
The author also addresses the ethical implications of framing, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and integrity in leadership communication.
Overall, the Power of Framing is a must-read for anybody hoping to become an expert in leadership communication since it skillfully blends ageless knowledge with current issues in a way that is both instructive and useful.
I was motivated to write The Power of Framing; Challenging the Language of Leadership because leaders may be verbally skilled but quite unaware of how their language shapes context in organizational life.
… Gail T. Fairhurst said to SAFETY4SEA
