Clichéd Words I Can’t Stand Anymore Around the Office
I hate clichés, (there’s a cliché if I’ve ever heard one) – but seriously – all the buzzwords and clichés used today, especially in office, are starting to annoy me. People use these buzz words to sound smart, super intelligent and ‘in with the times’. Great! I say – but stop using words which are over 4 years old and have little or no meaning anymore! Let’s get started:
1. 2.0
This has to be the most abused word of the century! Everything today is 2.0, 3.0 even. For the love of God, it was coined back in 2004 by O’Rielly – it reached it’s peak in 2006 – by being named “Time Magazines top 10 words of 2006″. But come now people, we’re in 2010 – and do you really think there’s a 2.0 or a 3.0 anymore?
2. Synergy
The first time I heard this – almost a decade ago – I was stunned beyond belief and I thought my lecturer to be the smartest person in the whole world for using that phrase. That’s not all; when I used that word for the first time at an interview, I was literally handded the job. I felt good, I felt smart – I knew a word that was going to revolutionize my career. That’s what I thought 10 years ago. Today it’s been so overused, abused and left to die like a mangy animal under the hot broiling sun, it’s starting to stink the place up. It just sounds cheesy – so really…stop using it.
3. Outside the box
Yes, I know it means, think creatively, think unconventionally , think of things that others won’t think of – yes, we all know that. But the truth is, everytime someone can’t find a solution or they’re stuck – they just say “I got to think out of the box” or they yell to their teams ” you’re not thinking out of the box!!” – I’ve used it many times myself and been yelled that at me even more. I said it back then and I’ll say it again “Can’t think out of the box? Then let’s take it outside”
4. Push the envelope
Stop using this. It’s refers to pilots pushing the “flight envelope” during WWII – if I’m not doing something related to rocket science or aviation, I know I’m not pushing any envelopes.
5. Add Value/Value add
OK this is a little off, but hear me out – If you’re telling this to someone who’s been working for a while – it’s a great thing to do – I don’t agree 100% – but still. Now tell this to a fresh graduate right out of college and into his 3rd month on the job and he’ll be “Wha? how?” and trust me – most people won’t know how to answer that question. It’s a good word – heck, they all are – but if you are NOT going to “add value” by telling someone to add value – stop saying it.
There you have it, let’s hear you’re list of clichés that you can’t stand!
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Good list kiran! “If you cant convince them, confuse them” – that seems to be the motto.. People seem to have forgotten that the best in their fields are best because they possess the ability to explain the most difficult sounding concepts in the simplest of the terms.
Good read and a required one. May be now we shoud start having simplicity experts.
one other word is “rockstar” – i just can’t stand it.
oh these are good ones – here’s my list
Core Competencies
Context: We need to focus on our core competencies in order to maintain our edge in the marketplace
Meaning: What you/your company does well
Customer Centric
Context: We need to be customer centric from now on
Meaning: Since ultimately we sell to the customer, we might as well listen to what they’re saying. Similar: customer driven.
Cutting Edge
Context: This is cutting edge technology we’re using
Meaning: This is the most recent version. Slightly less bugs.
End to End
Context: Let’s visualise the process end-to-end
Meaning: Let’s work out the whole process
E.T.A.
Context: What’s the E.T.A. on this report?
Meaning: short for Expected time of arrival, ie how long will it take to get it finished.
First Mover
Context: If we launch 3G now, we’ll have first mover advantage
Meaning: If we pay massive advertising costs to educate customers about this new development, we’ll hopefully have the advantage of getting lots of customers. If not, we’ve paid to educate people whilst other companies with no ad costs will reap the rewards.
dude!!
“take ownership”
“the big picture”
“touch base” – LOL!!!
@Satvik – thanks Satvik! that’s so true!! Remember how many times we’ve heard these? LOL!
@Alicia – thanks for that list! good one!
@manoj – Manoj, those are killer! they should make it into my list
Pkkkkkkkkk !!!
“Lets connect” !!! first time i heard it in office and i was like wahh ??!!??!!
“Valus add” – Good one pk !
A chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link. – i can’t stand that!
Excellent post. Thanks.
Aw, this was a really quality post. In theory I’d like to write like this too – taking time and real effort to make a good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and never seem to get something done.
Searching for this for some time now – i guess luck is more advanced than search engines
Great post! Tnx.
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LOL!! thanks Alpa! well when I heard it first also it was the same thing.. he he he
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