The Unstoppable Unit Of Us
I once worked for a restaurant owner who spoke about ‘the company’ when he wanted to distance himself from an unpopular decision like firing an employee, even though he was the sole director.
He’d say something like, ‘The company has no option but to let you go.’
His strategy was to diffuse responsibility, reduce the likelihood of backlash and blunt the emotional blow of the decison. Of course, he’s not alone. We hear CEOs, university deans, doctors and politicians do the same—speaking as if the organisation they belong to is a faceless institution and not made up of individuals.
If we’re honest, we also use language to deflect blame.
It’s the easiest thing in the world to avoid personal accountability by acting as if whatever happens is the inevitable action of ‘the system’.
But it turns out there is no ‘them’; there is only ‘us’.
We are the family, the neighbours, the pupils, the school, the university, the community, the citizens, the city and the country.
It's easier to move forward when we speak hands on hearts, owning our decisions, words and actions. Together.
Yes excellent point- even like the fact cheating an insurance company, or not paying for one or two groceries at a big supermarket, just drives up the prices for all individuals that use their services. It is all us.
Oof. It really does detach the personal human connection by saying "we," or "the company." What kind of shifts do you think would come about from more personal language accountability?