A Guide to How We Talk About Business at Equitable Operations
At Equitable Operations, our commitment to re-humanizing business goes beyond the services we offer – it’s embedded in the very language we use. We believe words have power, and the terms we choose to describe our work, our teams, and our clients reflect our values.
This is sometimes at direct odds with the terms people are searching for, and our desire to leverage Search Engine Optimization (SEO) so that we’ll be found when people search on Google, Bing, and other search engines. We recognize that the path towards achieving our goals, requires us to play the game that currently exists – including ranking for the keywords that we hope to change to ensure that those searching for our expertise can find us.
Because we must on occasion use terms that we don’t feel are fully aligned with our mission, vision, and values – we’re sharing this article to serve as a disclaimer and reference guide to the language we use, offering insight into why we choose certain terms over others and how this aligns with our mission, vision, and values.
Key Takeaways
- We prefer “staff” or “team members” over “employee” to emphasize collaboration and inclusivity.
- “Lead” and “manage” are not interchangeable at Equitable Operations. We see “leadership” as inspiring and guiding, while “management” often refers to oversight and control.
- This post is part of a living document that will evolve as we continue to refine our language and SEO strategy.
Why We Avoid the Term “Employee”
The word “employee” is a common term in business, but it doesn’t fully capture the spirit of teamwork and shared purpose that we cultivate at Equitable Operations. “Employee” can imply a one-directional relationship, where the individual is primarily a resource to be managed. Instead, we use “staff,” “team,” or “team members” to reflect a more collaborative, inclusive, and human-centered approach. These terms highlight that everyone contributes to the success of the business and that leadership is about fostering a supportive environment where all voices are valued.
While “employee” might be a high-ranking keyword, we believe it’s worth the extra effort to introduce people to our preferred terms. Over time, as our content ranks higher for these alternatives, we aim to shift the conversation towards a more equitable understanding of workplace roles.
The Difference Between “Managing” and “Leading”
At Equitable Operations, we draw a clear line between “managing” and “leading.” The term “manage” often suggests a top-down approach, focused on controlling and organizing tasks. Management is necessary in any organization as is “leadership,” which we define as guiding, inspiring, and empowering others to achieve their best work.
In our view, a leader is someone who sets a vision and motivates their team to reach it, whereas a manager might focus more on the logistical aspects of achieving that vision. By using “lead” and “leader” in our language, we encourage a culture of trust, innovation, and shared responsibility.
While the terms “manager” and “manage” are frequently used in searches, we aim to guide our audience toward understanding management and leadership aren’t the same. Our goal is to shift from management-heavy practices to leadership-focused approaches, reducing the need for traditional management and emphasizing the importance of leadership.
A Living Document
Language (like business trends, the social landscape, and technology) is changing all around us. It’s important to explore changes and proactively assess what that means for us as individuals and for business.
Instead of being stuck in what was, we ask ourselves: What’s it going to take to be successful in the future?
This post marks the beginning of a living document – a resource that will evolve as our language and strategies develop. As we continue to blog and create content, we’ll refer back to this post whenever we use terms that don’t fully align with our philosophy. This will serve as a reminder to our readers and ourselves of the importance of language in shaping workplace culture.
Read more about Equitable Operation’s core value: evolution.
At Equitable Operations, we’re dedicated to fostering a business environment that prioritizes people, purpose, and profit. If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help you lead with integrity and build a company culture that reflects your values, we invite you to explore our services. Together, we can create a future where business has space to be done with heart.
