I and Me

Funny how the simplest things stick with you.

A few years back I attended a leadership day organised by a client.  It was one of those events where everything just worked.  People, venue and presentations all connected well.  Maybe it’s when these sorts of nuances intersect that new ideas are most likely to stick.  Alternatively, I may have been in a heightened state in anticipation of lunch.

One of the presenters challenged us to think critically about communication.  Specifically, we were tasked with examining the differences between just a few words.  The thinking was that “us and we” were about inclusion and leadership whereas “I and me” were associated with compliance and process.

Spend a week listening for these words and observe those that use them.  Think about your own choice of words and how your audience may perceive them.  Perhaps it’s all about interpretation and semantics.  Are they just words or do they tell a bigger story?