Stop Saying "They Work for Me"
Jun 10, 2026
There is a phrase that finds its way into leadership conversations every day:
“These are the people who work for me.”
Most leaders don't mean anything negative by it. In fact, many say it without even thinking. But hidden inside that phrase is a mindset that can quietly create distance between leaders and their teams.
The best leaders understand something different.
People don't work for you. They work with you.
The Leadership Trap
One of the dangers of leadership is that the higher you rise in an organization, the easier it becomes to believe your title is what drives success.
You make decisions.
You provide direction.
You carry responsibility.
All of those things are true.
But none of them mean you can accomplish anything significant by yourself.
Every successful organization is built by a team of people who choose to invest their effort, talent, and commitment into a shared mission. No matter how talented a leader may be, success ultimately depends on the people around them.
Greatness Is Always a Team Sport
Think about the most successful leaders you've known.
Chances are, they weren't successful because they had all the answers.
They were successful because they surrounded themselves with great people and created an environment where those people could thrive.
The reality is simple:
- A leader can create a vision.
- A leader can establish direction.
- A leader can make difficult decisions.
But it is the team that turns those decisions into results.
Without execution, vision remains an idea.
Without people, leadership has nowhere to go.
Language Shapes Culture
The words leaders use matter.
When we consistently refer to people as those who "work for us," we unintentionally reinforce a hierarchy that can create separation.
When we say people "work with us," we reinforce partnership.
That shift may seem small, but it changes how leaders view their role.
Instead of seeing themselves as someone above the team, they begin to see themselves as someone responsible for serving the team.
The best leaders understand that leadership is not about being the most important person in the room.
It's about helping others become successful.
This Week's Leadership Reflection
Take a moment and think about how you talk about your team.
Do you refer to them as employees?
Or do you see them as partners in the mission?
The strongest organizations are built when leaders create an environment where people feel respected, valued, and connected to something bigger than themselves.
Because at the end of the day, leadership isn't about what people do for you.
It's about what you accomplish together.
— H. Dean Crisp Jr.
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