Lately, it feels like everyone says the same thing:
“I really need to lean into that… “That’s something we should lean into…”
Ever since Sheryl Sandberg wrote Lean In, the phrase has become a kind of cultural reflex. And it’s not the only one. We’ve all heard — and probably used — phrases like:
Bandwidth
Leverage
Low-hanging fruit
Out of pocket
Drill down
Move the goalposts
Bring to the table
Corporate language spreads quickly, and before we know it, we’re all repeating the same expressions without even thinking about them.
Why? Because these phrases make us feel like we belong.
Belonging is one of the most fundamental human needs. In ancient times, belonging to a tribe meant survival. Being accepted was safety. That instinct is still in us today. So we imitate the language we hear around us. It signals, “I’m one of you. I understand. I belong here.”
There’s nothing inherently wrong with that — belonging is good. But if you want to stand out, you can’t blend in with the chorus of recycled expressions.
Leaders don’t speak to sound like everyone else. They speak to be understood.
Be intentional with your words. Say what you mean. Don’t just copy the language of the tribe. When you use your own voice, people will notice. They’ll see originality. They’ll hear clarity. They’ll trust you more.
You don’t need to “lean in” to everything.
Sometimes, you just need to be real.