Phrases Execs Use That Make You Cringe

[Anonymous]

Alignment - every. other. sentence. We're aligning the alignment process so aligning aligns to alignment goals.

[Anonymous]

We could make a bingo game out of this thread.

Actively working: it's on someone's task list but might never happen

To action something (used as a verb): because simply doing something would be passé

As we move forward: let's avoid talking about current problems and try skip past them

Kind of / sort of: insert these meaningless phrases liberally to soften what you demand that others do

To align: deferring to management hierarchy rather than having original thoughts

Take it offline: to have an informal meeting without an audience so I can convince you that I'm right

Touch base: to email back and forth several times before then calling another meeting where we will agree to take it offline

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Let's take this offline" when you're in a meeting room.

I say that all the time.

It’s nicer than the alternative:

“Stop whining, Karen.”

“Don’t make everything about you, Karen.”

“For the love of God, STFU Karen!”

[Anonymous]

Who do you consider execs?

[Anonymous]

Didn't read the whole thread, but here are a few colloquialisms that have clearly gone past their prime:

"Off the reservation" - used to refer to someone who goes outside of their expected scope, but originally referred to Native Americans.

"Crack the whip" - used to refer to pushing people harder, but originally referred to workhorses or slaves.

"Indian Giver" - used to refer to someone who asked for a resource back (i.e. headcount), but originally referred to Native Americans

"Stop being Jewish" - used to refer to someone who is cheap, but obviously referred to Jewish frugality.

[Anonymous]

I have to google soup to nuts. I know what it means because I have heard it my whole life (my dad uses it a lot!) but I have no idea what the freaking origin could be now that I see it in print.

[Anonymous]

Gents, Open the kimono, pow wow, off the reservation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This book is used as “unique” in my office as well.

Ones that are common in my office:

Lean in (meaning do extra work, said over and over again by some execs and meant as a compliment)

Don’t build the church for Easter Sunday

Need to align on that. (Find agreement)

Don’t even get me started on the words that they say incorrectly. They say simplistic when they mean simple. They pronounce it “lie BERRY”, I kid you not. College graduate too.

j

I had a boss years ago who would always say "anal attentive"

[Anonymous]

Boss uses the word "brother" after every. fcking. thing.

Thanks, brother!

Great job, brother!

When will you be back on the project, brother?

(Of course, women have no similar term of endearment. It's just for the boys.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dog and pony show.

+1. I also hate when ppl say they “don’t have a dog in this fight”. I don’t feel like thinking about dog fighting in the middle of a workday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Boss uses the word "brother" after every. fcking. thing.

Thanks, brother!

Great job, brother!

When will you be back on the project, brother?

(Of course, women have no similar term of endearment. It's just for the boys.)

It must be cool working for Hulk Hogan though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG you guys are cracking me up. I'm in consulting and hear these ALL THE TIME.

A simpler example, but one that still drives me nuts. "Why don't I reach out to him/her..." Um, you mean you're going to email him/her?

We also have "prime the pump."

To be honest, while these drive me nuts, I essentially add to the problem. Our client loves this stuff, because it makes their agency (federal agency) seem more business like. It's pandering to them and making them feel important. We often feed them lines that they then regurgitate in meetings with their higher ups. It's an emperors' new clothes situation. No one really knows what they're talking about, so they use jargon to make it sound like they do. And it spreads.


I'm going out of pocket for a while, but I'll put on my OOO. Touch base later if you need me and we can discuss synergies. My door is always open to collaboration!

+100! I have always suspected that everyone is confused, pretending, and watching what the next man does for cues on how to behave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that "deep dive" has not been mentioned.

I am so sick of hearing "We will dive deep" on this or that. Meanwhile, it's usually people who don't have a clue about the subject matter they are discussing who say things like that.

Optics is commonly used at our government agency.

I also hear "I don't have visibility on that" rather than someone saying they don't know.

If I heard money shot or lift the skirt to see the warts, I don't know that I'd be able to maintain my composure.

Lol!! I have a coworker who uses deep dive in almost every conversation. I view her as attempting to sound smart but coming across as having a limited vocabulary.

[Anonymous]

Corporate-speak for layoffs:

Right-size. Workforce restructuring. Resource Action or RA.

As in, "Our customers hate us, we're losing money and we need to right-size. Massive RAs are planned since we can't leverage the talent we have." Kill. me. now.

[Anonymous]

Instead of layoffs, saying "riffs" and "riffing" (for Reduction in Force)