Ever get tired of being asked to “give 110%” of yourself? As if you could self-clone on the spot, or instantaneously multiply, in order to ‘better- support’ team needs?
How do you feel when advised not to “open the kimono” (this can sometimes happen when the 'idea hamsters' on the 'bleeding-edge' that you work with - haven't finished their testing yet). If your answer is "ready to take action" - then you may want to enter our Useless Jargon Giveaway where you might be randomly chosen to win a $50 Visa Gift Card* for submitting a workplace catchphrase that you think should be removed from the vocabulary.
Here’s the situation: Since 1976, Michigan’s Lake Superior State University has been doing great work polling and raising awareness about words that ought to be outright banned from everyday language use. Prior winners include:
Teachable moment | Intellectually bankrupt | Boneless wings |
Amazing | Win the future | Thank you in advance |
Refudiate | A-ha moment | Man up |
Game changer | Perfect Storm | Shovel-ready |
Staycation | Man cave | Under the bus |
Awesome | Talking Points | Friend-raising |
Junk Science | It is what it is | Pwn |
Curate | Cra-Cra | Hacks |
and even though you may still be receiving emails every day that use the word "amazing" three or more times to describe things that, well, aren't - it's reassuring to know that there are entities out there keeping track of this stuff.
But what about the parade of meaningless business expressions that are impossible for the average al desko luncher to avoid hearing in the workplace? Terms like core competencies, buy-in, empowerment, taking it to the next level and learnings (that most cringeworthy of the verbs-turned-noun, do you agree?) can now be submitted for inclusion in our directory of the most cloying words in memospeak!
TO ENTER, simply tell us in the comments below - which business jargon word or phrase you’d like to never hear again, and you’ll be automatically entered to win a $50 Visa Gift Card!
Good luck everybody! Oh, and we promise, if you win we will not be 'reaching-out' to you. Instead, we will contact you via email. ;)
*Open now through January 27, 2015 to US residents 18 years or older.
Congratulations to Lucky Winner! tsmith4
Bae and Cra-Cra
awesome
Anything that references more than 100%. Hate it.
Level set
"EEK" time to throw that expression under the bus! So annoying!!
Seriously
I understand your concern!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But wait...there 's more!
No more "a Ha" moments please
"With all due respect" because you know nothing respectful will come after that!
The word "amazing" is starting to get to me since my daughter and all her friends are constantly using it in every sentence.
Cra cra
Look at the Big Picture drives me bananas!!!
delegate
How about "It's gonna be epic" or "From farm to Table" ~ I've heard these said so much~ drives me nuts!!