WHY WE DON'T <br> EMPLOY STAFF &<br> WE DON'T HAVE CLIENTS
Two words we never use at Everyday Massive
Few interesting revelations begin with “I was watching Netflix…”, but there’s always an exception to the rule. In this particular case, it was overhearing a character compare language to a virus.
I think the show was True Detective (which I do realise I’m very late to the party on), and I think the actor was Matthew McConaughey (which is entirely irrelevant). Anyway, he makes the comparison that language passes from person to person, rewiring the brain.
It’s such a great metaphor — perfectly capturing the way language rapidly spreads ideas and perspectives. It’s insidious and highly contagious, creeping into our vernacular from mere exposure and public repetition.
Equally interesting, is the way words are imbued with meaning, emotion and various archaic hangovers that shape our perspective, often without our awareness.
This is why at Everyday Massive we have two words we never use. Words that go against everything we believe.
The first is ‘staff’.
Seems innocuous enough, right? Perhaps… until you look at the etymology. Quite unsurprisingly, it evolved from the old English ‘stæf’, which is literally the long stick used as a support when walking or climbing, or as a weapon to bludgeon others with. It was also used to describe the rungs of a ladder.
Let’s just consider that a moment, shall we? The same word describes both employees and a resource you use to lean on, or tread on, to get where you want to go.
The second word is ‘client’.
And again, let’s examine its origins: from Latin ‘cluere’, meaning ‘to hear or obey’. In ancient Rome, the term was used to describe a plebeian (commoner) under the protection or patronage of a patrician (aristocrat). Clients were seen as lower class dependants or hangers-on. A truly delightful way to describe a relationship.
Now, language evolves. Words take on new meanings and are used in a different context. But in many cases, they simply become so deeply ingrained that we use them without considering what they subconsciously convey.
Neither ‘staff’ nor ‘client’ carry connotations we want any part of at Everyday Massive.
Instead of ‘staff’, we use ‘our people’ and ‘team’. ‘People’ brings it back to what it’s all about for us — our lead value of Always human. For all their imperfections and oddities, people are wonderful. And together, as a ‘team’, we pull together to get work done. No-one owns the result, it’s the sum of anyone and everyone’s ideas and unique talents.
Rather than ‘client’, we use ‘collaborator’. We’re fortunate enough not to work with anyone who could be described as ‘common’. Quite the opposite. The people we work with are incredible, and if we were to exclude them from the process, simply foisting a solution developed in isolation upon them and expecting them to take it, the result would be worse for it.
On the other hand, we work closely with ‘collaborators’, striving towards a common goal — solutions that connect. It’s an approach based on co-creation, rather than an outdated service model.
We communicate so intuitively, it’s easy to take language for granted. But when we step back and look at what words we’re using often in the workplace, what messages they’re sending and cultural permissions they’re setting, small changes every day can lead to massive impact.
