It’s important for communications leaders to remind their teams and organizations that they have what it takes to get the job done.
I recently went running in the woods for the first time in years. Despite my treadmill training, I felt out of my comfort zone and was fading fast when my nine-year-old peddled up the trail behind me on her mountain bike. Witnessing my struggle, her own little lungs huffing as she passed, she cheered over her shoulder, “We got this!” Her sincere vote of confidence and team approach inspired me to keep slogging…with a smile on my face and a little more determination in my step.
During a video conference later in the week, I heard the phrase again. The team I’m partnering with is undergoing significant change, and the weight of the work (and the late hour) showed on everyone’s faces. As the meeting ended, a team member offered up an unexpected – and very enthusiastic – “We got this!” Her confident, accurate assessment left everyone in great spirits…and was a quick reminder that our work was on the right track.
The following afternoon, I was chatting with a leader who is new to her organization. With lots on her plate, she’s doing an outstanding job overseeing her team’s work while absorbing the organizational culture and building her function. I’m proud to be her partner, inspired by her willingness to dive in and excited about our work ahead. She certainly didn’t need to hear that she “has this,” but she sincerely appreciated the partnership and reassurance when I noted the fact.
Whether you’re using communications to inspire a colleague, a 300,000-employee workforce or a business leader, the concept behind the (grammatically incorrect) phrase, “We got this!” is powerful. It’s an expression of confidence in – and reassurance of – your collective skill, competencies and business. It shares your optimism about the road ahead and the work your team or organization has accomplished to date. It implies sincere support, partnership and teamwork. As a communicator, you can use the sentiment behind this three-word phrase to:
- Champion others. When you see individuals or teams flagging, communicate your sincere and encouraging confidence in formal and informal ways. A leader’s unexpected, enthusiastic recognition or reminder might be the motivation that keeps the team pushing forward when work gets tough.
- Acknowledge that you’re in it together. Most communication projects involve a team of people and loads of “behind-the-scenes” details. Expressing optimism and confidence in the team’s work during a meeting, in a global town hall or in an inspiring leadership video can unite, rally and remind folks how much they’ve accomplished… versus focusing on how much work still lies ahead. In fact, research from Stanford University says that simply using the word “together” when discussing tasks increased team members’ persistence, interest and performance.
- Support your leader… and their message. When someone is new to an organization or role, validation and support can highlight the unique value they bring to the team and can encourage them to take calculated risks and surface game-changing ideas. Great leaders benefit from champions that support them, and they also appreciate folks who spread that confidence and optimism within the organization.
Never use the term, “We got this!” as a platitude, or when you don’t have your act together. Insincerity and poor planning or execution can quickly erode your credibility. But if your work is on track and your team can back-up the phrase with solid work, partnership and progress against your commitments, communications leaders can use this powerful sentiment to champion individuals, teams and organizations – even when there’s a challenging road ahead.
We got this.
With more than two decades of communications experience spanning agencies, Fortune-100 organizations, non-profits and academia, Kristi Hinck Mills today brings her passion for communications to CommsLede Consulting, where she delivers smart, targeted communications solutions for her clients.
