Some phrases carry a lot of weight.
They are packed with meaning and implication. Good leaders depend on some expressions to convey how they feel about team members and what they expect from them.
One of the most powerful examples is the simple phrase, “I am counting on you.”
When a leader tells a team member or colleague they are counting on them, it suggests a whole host of messages. The expression signals that the leader trusts and has confidence in the skills of the team member.
Leaders don’t count on people they don’t perceive as competent and reliable. That the future depends on them also suggests that the leader values their contribution and the potential to do even more.
“I’m counting on you” also implies the person’s work is critical for the team’s or project’s overall success, and it raises the stakes on their accountability for a favorable outcome.
By creating a sense of partnership and shared mission, this expression suggests the responsibility for a good outcome is now shared.
Because “I’m counting on you” is about the future and not the past, it creates an expectation for performance. It implies that the role the team member will play is significant and critically important.
In fact, success does depend, at least partially, on the team member’s performance. In essence, the leader is saying that they need the team member to come through.
No one wants to let down a leader or colleague who is counting on them. The phrase said in a supportive tone often provides people with a boost of confidence to perform well and fills them with pride from being relied upon.
Most people like being in a position where what they do in the future counts to someone they respect.
All of this in four simple words.
Maybe you should consider replacing empty praise with this powerfully prolific declaration. “I’m counting on you” takes just a few seconds to deliver but can have a profound impact on others.
In the words of poet Maya Angelou, “I do my best because I’m counting on you counting on me.”
