The Power of Common Language

After three years of promises, the day finally arrived. The gym had long been addressing concerns about its aging exercise bikes with the familiar phrase, “We’re looking into it.”

Then, one morning, we walked into a room filled with brand-new Technogym exercise bikes. As the name suggests, the technology was next level compared to the 30-year-old relics they replaced.

Why does this matter?

Our group fitness class is called RPM—Revolutions Per Minute. The entire premise is built around tracking how fast your legs can push. But the old bikes? Their archaic monitors had stopped working years ago. Without data on revolutions or resistance, instructors didn’t bother mentioning them—because no one knew what they were pushing.

The new Technogym bikes changed everything. Their monitors display revolutions, resistance, heart rate, time riding, and more.

Now, the instructor calls out targets:

🟢 “We’re climbing a hill at 12.” — A resistance benchmark.

🔵 “This is a pace track, aim for 130 RPM.” — A revolution benchmark.

We finally have a common language.

Common language cuts through the clutter. It provides clarity, alignment, and a shared understanding of expectations.

Mental Fitness and the Emotional Backpack

To help people talk about Mental Fitness, I use the analogy of the Emotional Backpack.

We all wear one. Sometimes, it’s weighed down by stressors that drain our cognitive resources. Being mentally fit means using alternate narratives to lighten that load—so you can be the best version of yourself more often.

The Emotional Backpack is common language.

Does it work?

While touring Oakwood Primary School for Principal Will Davis’ podcast, I met incredible educators who shared their strategies for lightening their Emotional Backpack. Even someone who hadn’t attended the Mental Fitness workshop referenced it. That’s the power of a shared analogy.

Are you using common language to drive change?

✅ Is it simple to understand?

✅ Does it help monitor progress?

✅ Is it in the form of an analogy (since we remember better through association)?

Common language is a blend of creativity and simplicity.

Where could you implement it in your world?