I am proudly not on TikTok. So, when Facebook and Instagram started putting these tiny short videos in my feed, I tried to scroll past them really quickly. But then they pulled me in with constant golden retriever videos, and I bit. And now apparently, I’ll watch what they put in my feed – that’s how they get you. You have been warned. I stumbled on this spot-on script by “itscourtneymichelle” of how we actually talk in corporate America. I’ve heard these terms over the years. I’ve used some of them (cringe). And most of the time, it is as bad as it sounds. Here’s the script:
I love that idea, so let’s definitely put a pin in that. And then I think that we really deep dive. Right? Sync up, kind of like an all hands on deck approach, to making sure that this particular project is really a value-add for the demographic at hand. Right?
Making sure we don’t get lost in the weeds, really zooming out, get that birds eye view, and come from a holistic overview approach. So that we can then really drill down. Right? Be disruptive. Bring those KPIs to the table. Dot our i’s and cross our t’s and essentially, kind of reinvent the wheel for ROIs. Yeah. So, touch base with the team, I’m going to run it up the flag pole. So, we’ll get you onboarded with some bandwidth and pings to take offline and then we’ll circle back. And that’s all I have.
What Are You Really Saying with these 10 Phrases?
Not all phrases are bad. Often, the first few times the phrases get used, they actually make sense. But then people start throwing them out in meetings like candy, and they don’t really mean much to anyone – not even for the leaders spouting them off. So, what are we really saying when we say certain phrases and what needs to stop?
1. Put a pin in that.
Translation. I don’t want to talk anymore about this idea. I don’t think it has merit, and we may never “circle back” to it. But I need you stop talking on and on about this random thought so we don’t waste more time.
2. Deep dive.
Deep dive…like in the ocean? Do we need oxygen tanks for this? Specifically, how are we diving deep into this idea? Does it need more research? Everyone nods along on this one without know what actionable steps to take next.
3. Birds-Eye View.
Another vague term. Some birds sit outside my kitchen window – it’s not very high off the ground. Exactly what view are you looking for when we throw this term out?
4. Holistic Approach.
If you want the client to consider other factors, just say that. No need to throw out a nebulous term that just means the approach we’re doing isn’t going to cut it. There are more factors to consider.
5. Be disruptive.
I see this one a lot when people are talking about trying to be more innovative in the DoD. I get the concept. And people can use that term now because the DoD is known for being slow and bureaucratic. But let’s be real. No one likes disruptions. And too many of them starts to get people mad. So, what is it that you actually want to do – other than just being disruptive.
6. In the weeds.
Last time I checked, I paid someone a lot of money to pull out all of my weeds. But this one is thrown out there all the time when someone is losing focus of the…big picture or birds-eye view. Tell someone exactly what they’re over-focusing on, and stop saying “in the weeds”.
7. Reinvent the wheel.
I might be guilty on this one, but in my defense, I used it negatively. As in, “We don’t want to reinvent the wheel.” I promise I will stop saying that. And instead, I will simply say that we should re-use what someone else has already developed and not waste time.
8. Value-add.
Value-add is redundant. Didn’t the product already have value? Why do we need more? If you want to add improvements or extra features, just talk about the benefits. Don’t give it a nebulous term like value-add.
9. Return on investment or ROIs.
People love to throw out ROI when they talk about a project that will never make any money. It’s fine to use ROI if you’re actually investing money that could in turn yield a profit. Last time I checked, the DoD is in the business of spending money to defend the country. Are there often better ways to spend money? You bet. Are some tools not cutting it when in use? For sure. But they were never going to make the U.S. any money – unless we sell them to other countries to use against us. If you’re not pulling in a profit, just talk about whether or not a requirement is worth it to the customer.
10. Yeah. Right? Okay?
The filler words – the ones that people use when there’s a pause between jargonese thoughts, so they can gain affirmation in a conversation. A well-timed “right?” will get you nodding along, and then scratching your head over what you just said yes to. If you really care about what people think, ask them specifically. Chances are, they may have more questions or have a different idea.
Say What You Mean
I know there are more cringe-worthy phrases that we throw out there all the time. At the end of the day (see what I did there?), it’s important to consider our words. If you want someone to do more research, say that instead of asking them to reevaluate their findings. Get to the point, and your team will be a lot more productive.
