Phrases Execs Use That Make You Cringe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"this space"

We want to be leaders in this space.

There will be so much growth in this space.

This space will take off and we want to be ready.

Do you ever just want to call people out and ask them what "this space" is? Usually when I hear business speak jargon its a cover for not knowing what the heck you're really talking about.

[Anonymous]

So many great ones already listed, but my favorite is "We can't just sit around drinking our own bath water."

I think they mean drinking our own kool-aid...

+1 for "opening the kimono" - uugh.

[Anonymous]

I used many of the dumb ones like "out of pocket" or "I'll circle back" when I'm talking to the kind of person who I think would also use those terms.

I hate low-hanging fruit, key learnings and, most of all, best practices.

[Anonymous]

I had one consultant for an event my organization was running that kept referring to great photo opportunities as "getting the money shot." I don't think she knew the association of the phrase with the porn industry, but I cringed every time she said it on a large conference call (which was often).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"you don't sell the steak, you sell the sizzle"... "low hanging fruit"... referring to things as "bespoke" ...

Uhhh...what would you prefer over "bespoke"? It's an actual word with a meaning, not stupid jargon.

Right, if you're from the U.K., "bespoke" is a word in common usage. Not jargon at all.

In what context? Do lots of people in the U.K. go to tailors for suits?

[Anonymous]

Corroborate pronounced "cowwoberate"

[Anonymous]

Open the kimono. Creepy, racist, and gross all at once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I won't drain the slide"
"Tailwinds or headwinds"
"Algorithm"
Overuse of any word ending in -ize. Maximize, optimize........
"We need to harmonize our plans"

Ha, I’ve heard that too. I think it originated from a movie...

[Anonymous]

I can’t stand “at the end of the day”. I also hate “ping”

[Anonymous]

ABC for always be closing...junior people seem to use it but it’s so stupid

[Anonymous]

Dialogue as a verb
Cover off
Upskill

So many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Let's level set. "
I have one corporate client that uses this phrase all the time... Everyone in the company says it. Just to level set, let's level set here, level set what does this mean...
STOP

Serious question: what does this mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Let's level set. "
I have one corporate client that uses this phrase all the time... Everyone in the company says it. Just to level set, let's level set here, level set what does this mean...
STOP

Serious question: what does this mean?

Get everyone on the same page before we dive in and try not to boil the ocean while we eat the elephant one bite at a time.

[Anonymous]

Worst one -- synergies. Yuk.

[Anonymous]

Lift up the skirt and see the warts