When was the last time a single word determined your future? As a lawyer, you’re probably attuned to the fact that it was pretty recent. Attorneys are quite literally pros at parsing language. You’ve no doubt dedicated hours of your life to the difference that word choice makes in the welfare of your clients. That’s why I think you’ll want to consider one more word, one that may be sneakily undermining your business relationships—if you let it.

A scene from an episode of Netflix’s “The Crown” shows it best. Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret are navigating the early days of their relationship as monarch and subject, no longer just sisters. “Remember what Papa called us?” asks Margaret.