There Are No "S's" In Team!

“Our people are our greatest assets”.  So sayeth 99.9% of organization’s Value Statement.  It is usually the first declared bullet point in the Statement.  Why then would we refer to them as the “s” word?  I shudder when I hear the word.  It is so demeaning.  The “s” word is still used in employee handbooks, in policies and procedures, and, yes, even in job listings (in the same paragraph defining the organization as team-oriented).    It is contrary to the leadership skills of coaching and motivating our human resources in today’s environment. The disparaging "s" word…subordinate. 

Webster’s dictionary defines subordinate as 

• inferior in rank
• inferior in importance, secondary
• under the control or influence of something else; dependent

A subordinate environment yields low productivity

Ê low productivity yields high quality issues

Ê high quality issues increases customer complaints

Ê high customer complaints increases loss of customers and hence, revenue for the organization.

An associate, by definition

• joins
• unites
• combines for a common purpose

An associate environment yields high productivity

Ê high productivity yields little, if any, quality issues

Ê little, or no, quality issues decreases customer complaints

Ê low customer complaints increases the chances of  net increased revenues for, and the financial achievement of, the business.

Team is more than just changing verbiage to meet today’s expected vocabulary.  The word team coupled with the "s" word is a contradiction in terms.  There are no “inferiors” on today’s team.  Team is accepting as true the “us” not “they” or “them” philosophy.  Team is believing everyone brings something (positive) to the table.

The first step in the belief conversion begins with our daily language.  Edit company documents.  Where applicable, insert words that mirror world-class best practice human resource nouns - employee, associate, team member.  Our statements of value should imply we walk the talk.   Your thoughts?

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