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21 Office Buzzwords It’s Time to Banish Forever
Edge Media ^ | March 28, 2024 | Sarah Griffin

Posted on 04/21/2024 6:46:48 PM PDT by DoodleBob

Ah, the office – a place where language goes to get dressed in a suit and tie, only to trip over its own shoelaces. Here are 21 phrases that we’ve all heard ad nauseam, and if we’re being honest, wouldn’t miss if they were banished from the corporate lexicon forever:

#1. “Touch Base”

Because nothing says “I don’t actually play baseball” like using a sports metaphor to schedule a meeting.

#2. “Reach Out”

What are we, in a 90s boy band? Just say “I’ll send you an email” and leave the emotional ballads out of it.

#3. “Circle Back”

Less reminiscent of a productive workplace strategy, more an endless loop of doom where nothing ever gets resolved.

#4. “Synergize”

The verbal equivalent of a corporate trust fall. It’s supposed to mean teamwork but sounds more like a new age retreat.

#5. “Think Outside the Box”

If we had a nickel for every time this was said, we could construct a very large, very square box to trap the phrase in forever.

#6. “Leverage”

Originally a physics term, now just a fancy way of saying “use.” Because why use simple words when you can sound like a Wall Street tycoon?

#7. “Paradigm Shift”

Nothing quite like invoking the cosmos to describe changing the office printer.

#8. “Deep Dive”

Not a thrilling ocean adventure, but an overly long meeting about statistics. Bring a snorkel.

#9. “Bandwidth”

Unless you work at NASA, you’re probably just talking about time. Spoiler: nobody’s downloading you.

#10. “Low-Hanging Fruit”

Great for describing apples, less so for the easily achievable tasks that somehow still aren’t done.

#11. “Move the Needle”

Unless we’re all suddenly DJs, can we agree to just say “make progress”?

#12. “Boil the Ocean”

An epic quest to accomplish the impossible, or just corporate speak for trying to do way too much? You decide.

#13. “Take it Offline”

Because apparently, talking in person is now akin to being in airplane mode.

#14. “Win-Win Situation”

A mythical scenario, much like a unicorn, where everyone is happy and nobody’s spreadsheet gets rejected.

15. “On My Radar”

Unless you’re air traffic control, let’s stick to “I’m aware of it.”

#16. “Ping Me”

Not a game of table tennis, just a request for a message. Sadly, paddles are not involved.

#17. “Drill Down”

A phrase that makes you feel like you’re in for some serious dental work, rather than a closer look at the details.

#18. “Game Changer”

Overused to the point of meaninglessness. Changing the game or just changing the PowerPoint template?

#19. “At the End of the Day”

Spoiler: It’s night. Also, a filler phrase that’s the verbal equivalent of shrugging.

#20. “It’s on My Plate”

Because “I’m working on it” wasn’t foodie enough.

#21. “Ecosystem”

Unless we’re discussing the rainforest, can we agree our office plant doesn’t constitute an ecosystem?

So, next time you catch yourself using one of these phrases, take a moment to laugh, then say what you mean. After all, clear communication is the key to success, not the ability to speak in buzzwords.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
KEYWORDS: actually; buzzwords; marchforkarens; touchbase; words
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To: DoodleBob

Let’s get rid of existential threat, top of mind, and systemic anything while we’re at it!


101 posted on 04/21/2024 8:37:05 PM PDT by Chicory
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To: Mears

“My bad “ drives me nuts..”

I AGREE!


102 posted on 04/21/2024 8:37:28 PM PDT by Old Grumpy
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To: TLI

I drive for a living. After hearing my dispatcher mention on several occasions, that he was going to ‘reach out’ to a customer (meaning telephone a customer), I asked how long he would be, as we do need someone in the dispatch office.

He was not amused, but refrained from using that horrid phrase.


103 posted on 04/21/2024 8:46:56 PM PDT by A Formerly Proud Canadian ( Ceterum autem censeo Justinius True-dope-us esse delendam. sic semper tyrannis.)
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To: DoodleBob

No. 22, “ reach consensus “


104 posted on 04/21/2024 8:51:32 PM PDT by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never...in nothing, great or small...Winston ChurchIill)
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To: DoodleBob

I can honestly say I never participated in this silliness but I sure heard a lot of it. A few compatriots and I created a game called BS Bingo and secretly handed out bingo cards to our strategic allies at the beginning of conferences. Instructions were to sound out with “Bull S—t!” when the player had filled his card spelling out these words based on matching silly phrases used by the meeting participants. The corporate speak players never did figure out what we were doing.


105 posted on 04/21/2024 8:59:38 PM PDT by Sequoyah101 (Procrastination is just a form of defiance)
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To: BradyLS
“Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too!”?

No, that was Brandon's work, way before my time. But I DID keep a pic of Brandon trying out his new slogan...


106 posted on 04/21/2024 9:01:56 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“When exposing a crime is treated like a crime, you are being ruled by criminals” – Edward SnowdenA)
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To: Dr. Sivana

“Do the needful”

Now that’s a new one. Is that an Asian thing?


107 posted on 04/21/2024 9:03:53 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“When exposing a crime is treated like a crime, you are being ruled by criminals” – Edward SnowdenA)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

:-)


108 posted on 04/21/2024 9:05:35 PM PDT by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: lee martell

CÂLICE DU TABERNAK!


109 posted on 04/21/2024 9:06:00 PM PDT by A Formerly Proud Canadian ( Ceterum autem censeo Justinius True-dope-us esse delendam. sic semper tyrannis.)
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To: Buttons12

“...someone on Fox delivered herself of three trite expressions in one sentence.”

So VP Harris was a guest on the show?

She’s probably watching this thread closely getting ready for her next speech.


110 posted on 04/21/2024 9:06:38 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“When exposing a crime is treated like a crime, you are being ruled by criminals” – Edward SnowdenA)
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To: lee martell

I never heard of those two either…who made those up??


111 posted on 04/21/2024 9:09:01 PM PDT by nutmeg (FJB)
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To: Dr. Sivana
The needle has moved so much in this post it is now pegged...


112 posted on 04/21/2024 9:09:45 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“When exposing a crime is treated like a crime, you are being ruled by criminals” – Edward SnowdenA)
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To: Reno89519

Add “Restorative justice.”


113 posted on 04/21/2024 9:11:22 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“When exposing a crime is treated like a crime, you are being ruled by criminals” – Edward SnowdenA)
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To: BradyLS

I would think the opposite.

“Gimme crack corn, and I don’t care...my master’s gone away.”

I suppose in that case, “cracked corn” doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as well....too dry, I suppose.


114 posted on 04/21/2024 9:11:39 PM PDT by scrabblehack
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To: DoodleBob

Does Boilerplate count?


115 posted on 04/21/2024 9:11:40 PM PDT by Captain Peter Blood
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To: Chicory

Related...”mindshare” — UGH!!


116 posted on 04/21/2024 9:13:00 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“When exposing a crime is treated like a crime, you are being ruled by criminals” – Edward SnowdenA)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Somebody give me a reason to hate “stake holders”. That was a new one for me, but it makes sense (everyone who has a “stake” in the project - owner, contractors, community, etc.). I just don’t like it for some reason.


117 posted on 04/21/2024 9:25:42 PM PDT by 21twelve (Ever Vigilant. Never Fearful.)
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To: DoodleBob

21. We need to Socialize this to our customers.

That makes my heard hurt. Just say “tell them”.


118 posted on 04/21/2024 9:35:07 PM PDT by Not A Snowbird (I do not recognize Biden’s authority. (@FeistyFed on TS) 🐝)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom
Is that an Asian thing?

India. Used CONSTANTLY. I'm okay with it.
119 posted on 04/21/2024 9:45:57 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana
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To: lee martell

(Boil The Ocean)

Now you’ve gone and done it.

A whole bunch of crazy Liberals are, at this very moment,
bowing and chanting in front of little statues of St. Greta the Bridge Troll.

How dare you!!

😜


120 posted on 04/21/2024 9:46:33 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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