Among the reasons I enjoy reviewing The Economist is the way it combines symbolic verve with contemporary critical thinking concerning current economic, political, and financial news. It uses well worn symbolic phrases like "In the court of public opinion," and "Financial markets are buoyant, business confidence is rising, and global growth seems increasingly robust."
It also uses slightly more selective metaphorical phrases. In a recent article concerning the Goldman Sachs difficulties with Congress it reiterated the bank's 1999 mission as outlined in its prospectus. The statement used the typical verbiage concerning client interests being first, serving clients ensures success, and that if the bank's people, capital, or reputation were diminished the most difficult to restore would be reputation. To this statement The Economist wrote, "Only the most naive investor read that as a commitment to do-goodery rather than calculated self-interest. And only the most priggish today would argue that financial institutions are obliged to be fluffy."
Later in the same article it suggested, "No firm has combined such red-blooded dedication to profit and high pay with so little appreciation of the state's generosity..."
But in every issue the writer's go one step further in their symbolic sleight-of-hand and combine fact with rare imagery that sets this venerable periodical apart. Such as these lines from the April 24th, 2010 issue concerning a volcano (subscription required).
"The Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokul produced a thrilling show - and may continue to do so - but did most of its damage simply by shutting down air traffic in and out large parts of Europe for nearly a week. Rather than bereavement, it brought the eeriness, and sometimes the joy, of displacement. Colleagues were absent from their desks, and teachers and pupils from their classrooms; the clear blue skies were bereft of the silver needles that sew the world together. Birdsong made loud the silence of the jets, florists' vases missed the bright blooms of far-off fields, and far-off farmers missed the cash those blooms would have brought. But, this time, almost all that went missing will be returned."
I'm not saying becoming a poet is necessary to enhance your leadership communication ability.
But it couldn't hurt.
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