Looking Under the Hood of Annoying Management Speak

Let’s ‘drill down’ and ‘pick your brain’

Poking fun at corporate jargon is a current trend. Newspapers and online publications get a kick out of compiling extensive lists of the most egregious examples, and the overarching narrative is that we should puncture the pomposity that this “management speak” is deemed to represent.

To its critics, this new language of business is seen as a tool for making things seem more impressive than they are. Phrases are dismissed as “meaningless lingo” or “lame euphemisms,” and we’re offered simplified, plain-speaking versions instead. Sometimes, we’re simply forbidden to use corporate speak at all.

…

Want to continue?

By logging in you agree to receive communication from Quality Digest. Privacy Policy.

Create a FREE account

Forgot My Password

Comments

There is no I in team, but there's an m and an e

Me thinks there's a false choice here between “I need you to come into my office now” and “Can I pick your brain?” There are alternatives to the first statement, which might include something along the lines of "When you have a minute, let's talk about the Kramerica account and what I can do to help." Also, it's the tone that makes the music and we don't know the tone here.

I get it. I am usually not "on the phone" unless I'm butt dialing. It's idiom and it's OK (and "dialing" is antiquated). Still, why does someone need to "reach out" to a customer to reschedule a weekly meeting? Can't they just make a phone call? It is what it is, you say. Which doesn't really help me answer the question, What is it?

Do we need anymore references in the workplace to "drinking the KoolAid"? Babies were killed at Jonestown, they didn't commit suicide. Perhaps we can all be a little more creative when we dip into the well of ready-made sayings.

For a great article about metaphors, see this HBR article by Tihamér von Ghyczy: https://hbr.org/2003/09/the-fruitful-flaws-of-strategy-metaphor

NT3327

Clarity vs. shortcuts

I agree with what you say. Tone is everything and clarity should be king (oops... idiom)... I mean, should be the most important thing. Particularly in today's business world when we are dealing with people from around the globe, we have to make sure our language is clear. This morning I have been having a somewhat technical discussion with a person in Spain whose English is pretty good but not perfect. I am having to be very precise with my language so that he understands what I am saying.

When we "dip into the well" of "off-the cuff" idioms we could be "throwing a monkey wrench" into our conversations with a person for whom English is not their primary language. And even for some English speakers. The first time I heard the expression "30,000-foot view" I had to ask the speaker what he meant.

It takes a conscious effort to monitor our language and make sure our meaning and intent is understood.

End brain dump.