If You Want To Be The Boss, Say “We” Not “I”

Business communication If You Want to Be the Boss, Say “We” Not “I” A new study shows that pronouns are small, but potent, signals. by

• David Burkus

by

• David Burkus

March 06, 2015

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The royal “we” has a long and interesting history. Many attribute its first usage to King Henry II, who in 1169 used it to imply he was speaking for both himself, and for God. Over time, leaders began to use it to imply them and their constituents (a distinction that got a little blurry when Margaret Thatcher proclaimed “we have become a grandmother” and got a significant amount of chastisement). But beyond using the plural pronoun to indicate that you speak on behalf of a others (or deity), it turns out that using “we” could also mean you’re more considerate of others and possibly even a better leader.

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• David Burkus is an organizational psychologist and best-selling author of five books, including Best Team Ever. For more information, visit his website.

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New! HBR Learning Writing Skills Course Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Writing Skills. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies. Capture your audience's attention with smarter emails, Slacks, memos, and reports. Start Course Learn More & See All Courses Read more on Business communication

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