Tip on Leadership Communication & public speaking .

 Fri 07 March 2014

Tip on Leadership Communication & public speaking . 

When to Use “I” and “We” in Public Communications

Leaders’ public communications can MAKE their CAREERS  — if they remember their real audience !  Some leaders mistakenly act as if big public communications are all about themselves, while their teams think that communications should be about THEM ( the team ) . 

Your audience, your team mates,  are  sensitive to the number of “I’s” versus “we’s” that you as a leader use .  Yet teams also want their leaders to be forceful and decisive in taking responsibility for improving the situation.

 This requires a few strong “I’s,” like “I will.”

 So how do you know when to use “we” and when to use “I”?

 It’s important to use “we” when describing positive accomplishments, and “I” when taking  personal responsibility  when things go wrong & for stumbles,  indicating accountabliity &  resolve to make changes. The people on your team KNOW  the difference, and they’re listening carefully ! 

Adapted from “Every Leader's Real Audience” by Rosabeth Moss Kanter.