On My Behalf

The word behalf traces to Old English, where it was behealf.

Back then, the word be was more like our modern word by. Instead of “to exist”, it was more like “around” or “nearby”, or maybe even “about something.”

Likewise, half has morphed and traveled along its own linguistic journey. It used to be healf, which meant “part of something”, but which could also mean something like “side”—as in, she was by my side this whole time.

Behealf, then, meant “by the side”, or even “on the side.” If you were physically at their side, you were probably also fighting on their side. By the time behealf reached Middle English, it had begun to morph into this modern iteration, and Early Modern English made it into behalf.

If someone acts on your behalf, they are doing what you would do in their place. Or, more accurately, they’re doing something that would be in your best interests. There’s a strong presumption that they’ll only take an action that they believe will ultimately benefit you.

When someone does something for you, though, they aren’t really you. The map is not the territory, so to speak. Instead, they are representing you as best they can, and that will probably amount to somewhere around half as effective as if you were doing it yourself. They’re being you, by half.

That’s a modern twist that’s not related to the etymology, but it speaks to what happens when someone represents you.

A lawyer will absolutely fight for you… if it’s in their best interest, or if it aligns with their values. Likewise, a talent agent might be looking out for a big opportunity for a budding Substack author, but are they really doing this on behalf of their client, or are they looking for a big commission?

In finance, there’s a stark distinction drawn among finance managers. The ones truly working on your behalf are called fiduciaries. They swear an oath only to act in their clients’ best interests, but even they can only give you half the effort. They’re just not you, and this isn’t really their money.

And, of course, there are our elected officials, who ostensibly always work on behalf of the people who elect them.

Maybe there are some exceptions, though. If someone is more effective at a thing, they might yield a vastly better outcome than I could get by going alone. I can’t imagine going to court without a lawyer, nor would I want to diagnose my own MRI or blood work.

Instead, I need folks who I can trust to do something I want them to do, but maybe with less enthusiasm and attention than I might give to the same situation. I need them to do something on my behalf.