The “Royal We”

This morning I was getting my usual cup of Joe and my assistant Chrissy happened to be walking by the refreshment area.  As my Keurig® was percolating I casually mentioned to Chrissy “we” need to schedule a meeting time with my dad to finalize 2011 engagement letters and fixed price agreements this week.  She looked at me and said “by we, do you mean the ‘Royal We?’”  “Royal We?” I responded.  What is the Royal We?  She explained to me that the Queen of England would refer to decisions made as we, when all the people really know the it was a “I” decision.  Very appropriate.

I explained to Chrissy that when I used the word “we,” I meant the whole team in the office. This got me thinking. If you overheard your a team member in casual conversation with someone, would they refer to their work setting  as “we” or “they,” “us” or “them?” Does your team feel a “part of” something or just an “employee?”

The “part of” feeling is super important in retaining millennial’s.  If I am a part of something bigger and working to a collaborative goal, I am more likely to succeed.  If I feel included and needed I am willing to show up the next day fired-up and productive.  If I am a part of my workplace my loyalty will be stronger than ever.  If I am “part of” a collaborative process I will refer to my office as “we.”

In a honest game of espionage, I challenge you to see what your team would say.