They or We?

 

"Former U.S. labor secretary Robert B. Reich has devised a smart, simple, (and free) diagnostic tool for measuring the health of an organization," writes Daniel Pink in his book Drive. "When he talks to employees, he listens carefully for the pronouns they use. Do employees refer to their company as 'they' or 'we'? 'They' suggests at least some amount of disengagement, and perhaps alienation. 'We' suggests the opposite—that employees feel they're part of something significant and meaningful."

Let me suggest that you listen carefully in your next project team meeting. Do team members talk about the project and their leadership as "they" or "we"? "Theirs" or "ours"?