We Are All in This Together – Does It Mean Anything Anymore?

“We are all in this together.” It is supposed to sound encouraging, right? A show of unity. A reminder that no one is alone. But what does it really mean anymore?

A quick Google search will take you to a song from High School Musical. That says a lot. A catchy tune, lots of smiles — and very little real-world application. Because in real life, this phrase is rarely used by someone actually sharing the load with you.

Watch who says it. Nine out of ten times, it will be the person with the most power in the room. A senior manager. A boss. Someone who, frankly, is not in it the way you are. If you hear it in an office meeting, chances are, it is being used by someone who organized the meeting, not someone doing the heavy lifting.

It often feels like a pre-emptive excuse. If things go wrong, well, “we were all in it together,” right? So no one can be blamed. And if things go well, the person who said it — usually without lifting a finger — will take the credit.

That is not unity. That is clever deflection.

Next time you hear someone say it, ask yourself: who is delivering this slogan? What is the situation? Is this really about teamwork — or just a nice-sounding phrase to cover someone’s back?

Just saying.