Skip to main content

I was talking with someone about the early days of church planting before anyone was on our team. We had not yet officially formed a core group, the initial staff members had not yet committed. As I told my personal story, I kept using words such as “our” and “we”. Towards the middle of the conversation the person stopped me and asked, “Who’s ‘we’?”

The fact is I was talking about me most of the time, but I confused him with my verbiage by using inclusive words. I wasn’t trying to be confusing. It’s simply a habit I’ve formed. I have come to realize a team vocabulary is a large part of encouraging healthy teams. I love teams and team-building so much I’ve disciplined myself to always talk in a collective sense.

To be fully candid, I cringe when I hear leaders use the words “I”, “me, and “my” when referring to their team, their church or organization. To me it always sounds so controlling, prideful, and even arrogant. As an example, Bo Warren is our worship pastor. He’s one of the most talented people I have ever met. We joke about him being a celebrity, but he is really a very humble person. Most of our church doesn’t understand how talented he really is. When I refer to him, I don’t say “He’s my worship pastor”, because he’s not! He’s our worship pastor. I don’t want to portray to him or others that somehow I control him. I want the perception to be “we” together are part of a team effort. I would be limiting his potential if I referred to him in a possessive sense.

I understand it may seem to just be semantics, but to me it’s an important issue for leaders to think through, perhaps bigger than to whom some give credence. If we truly want to create a team environment, then we must develop team vocabularies.

There are a few times when I use the personal words, such as:

  • When offering a pointed direction – “I am asking you to do this for the team.”
  • When offering an opinion which may not be shared by others – “I think we should…”
  • When asking a question or stirring discussion – “I wonder if we could…”
  • When giving a specific, personal compliment – “I want to thank you for the incredible work you did.”

When I am speaking on behalf of the team or referring to team members, I try to use a collective term. My advice is to default to words like “we” and “our” whenever possible – even if people have to ask you who the “we” is to whom you are referring.

The more we talk like a team the more our environments will feel like a team.

(You may want to read my post on a leader’s vocabulary.)

Have you had a leader who abused team vocabulary as described?  

Related Posts

Ron Edmondson

Author Ron Edmondson

More posts by Ron Edmondson

Comments (26)

Loading... Logging you in...
  • Logged in as
We is such a powerful word. Whenever it is said, people automatically know they are not alone. They know that whether it is good or bad, someone else is with them.
1 reply · active 748 weeks ago

Tweets that mention When I Say I and When I Say We @ Ron Edmondson -- Topsy.com

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ron Edmondson, Glynn Young. Glynn Young said: RT @RonEdmondson: New Post: When I Say I and When I Say We http://bit.ly/buhNBI [...]
Great point, Ron. I would add that even more important than speaking with a vocabulary that emphasizes team, is having a team-oriented attitude and perspective. If a person finds him or herself using phrases like "my church," "my vision," "my department" etc., chances are that's a reflection of self-centered, possessive attitude. That person really ought to take a deeper look at their own motives. The change in vocabulary could be a part of a bigger shift towards more of a team-oriented worldview.
I kind of have to disagree with you on this one. I do think that it's just semantics and most of the time means nothing and no one would take it wrong...and if they do, they are the ones with the problem :)

For example, I'll say my church or my son or my department even when I actually have no control over any of them, even my son since he really belongs to my wife and I. We have, whether right or wrong created this shortcut in our language. I suppose it would be more proper to say "the church I go to" or the "place where I work". But to do this all of the time in common speech sounds very unwieldy.

I think it becomes a matter of pride or arrogance when we emphasize the I or my. For example, I can say "That's my car" when it really belongs to my wife and I. Or I can say "That's MY car", emphasizing the word my. I think the only time it's wrong to call something mine or use the word my is when you are doing it for the wrong reasons. I have the same thoughts about using "our" or "we" as in your first paragraph. If it's unclear as to who our or we is then perhaps clarification is due, but if you start talking about what you and your wife did before you had a team, then using the words "our" or "we" should just fit into the conversation.

I guess the bottom line for me is that, although it's probably grammatically incorrect, I don't think I would read any more into the use of those words, unless an attitude accompanied that use.
8 replies · active 748 weeks ago
I agree and would only add that whether intentional or not, if the leader is perceived as self-centered through their messaging, that narcissism kills morale. At that link, there is an example of an almost unbelievable incident in which an executive screamed narcissism during a huge conference. I also wrote a post on the use of "I vs. We" in which there is a suggestion that self-centered messaging also proliferates a culture that is counter to team-building.

Great post Ron. As you can tell, this is a point I am very passionate about. Thank you for sharing!
5 replies · active 748 weeks ago
Rock-solid advice Ron! Thanks for this great reminder!
1 reply · active 748 weeks ago
Diane Brogan's avatar

Diane Brogan · 748 weeks ago

Great post. I totally agree. I started using we many years ago when referring to our children. The "we" mentality continued when I became a supervisor at work. Our group created a successful team together. " We" does change one's thinking.
Great point!
We provides ownership and involvement. We creates longer term commitments
I creates isolation.
This wisdom becomes increasingly popular in the social media age! Thanks Ron
1 reply · active 693 weeks ago

Post a new comment

Comments by