fb

Let’s not run this up the flag pole…

Let’s not run this up the flag pole…

Most of us have been there. Sat in a meeting when somebody decides to use “management speak” or “corporate jargon” to make something sound more impressive than it is.

You’ve probably heard of the phrase “think outside the box” but what about “let’s not boil the ocean”?

Michael Sugden, chief executive of the advertising agency VCCP, recently put together a list of the most irritating metaphors used in the corporate world.

He wrote in Marketing Magazine that the increased use of corporate jargon in recent years has resulted in meetings degenerating “into a quagmire of nonsensical verbal piffle”.

He put together his top 10 of the most annoying phrases and in reverse order the results are shown below.

Oh and in case you’re “not singing off the same hymn sheet” I’ve translated the “management speak” into English in the italics below the phrase.

10. Think outside the box
– come up with new ideas…

9. I may have a window for you
– I can see you on…

8. Content is king
–  first used by Bill Gates in 1996 to indicate that content would drive the success of the internet. It now appears to be used for random purposes in meetings…

7. Let’s not boil the ocean
– let’s not make this too complicated…

6. Level playing field
– keep things equal…

5. Let’s workshop this
– let’s spend far too long talking about this in a meeting…

4. Shift the dial
– to be honest I’m not 100% sure but possibly means talk about something else. Either way it sounds very dramatic in a meeting…

3. Let’s socialise this
– let’s talk about this…

2. Fail forward
– when something doesn’t work but we try to learn from it (if we still have a job after the error of course…)

1. Growth hacking
– again, I don’t think anyone is 100% sure what it means but it does sound very impressive…

So, there you go. A list of 10 phrases to [impress / annoy – delete according to how you feel about the phrases] your colleagues at meetings.

Share this entry

Related articles

View All Articles

Recent articles

View All Articles
The right (or left) turn for Big Data…
May 31, 2023
Title
The right (or left) turn for Big Data…
Excerpt

In the ever-evolving world of logistics and delivery services, companies are constantly seeking innovative ways to optimise their […]

Drinking in the highs and lows…
May 18, 2023
Title
Drinking in the highs and lows…
Excerpt

In the world of business, effective advertising can really help or hinder a brand. A recent case highlighting […]

Expensive planes but low cost…
May 11, 2023
Title
Expensive planes but low cost…
Excerpt

Ryanair is one of the largest and most popular low-cost airlines in the world and it’s got ambitious […]

PwC to invest $1 Billion in AI…
Apr 27, 2023
Title
PwC to invest $1 Billion in AI…
Excerpt

PwC, one of the Big Four accounting firms, has announced its plan to invest $1 billion in artificial […]

Who else knows?
Apr 17, 2023
Title
Who else knows?
Excerpt

If done properly, data analytics can provide valuable information to a company. There can however be some unplanned […]

On your marks…
Apr 13, 2023
Title
On your marks…
Excerpt

Back in 1949, a German individual by the name of Adolf (Adi) Dassler started a business. He combined […]

What’s ACCA all about?
Mar 31, 2023
Title
What’s ACCA all about?
Excerpt

Ever wondered what ACCA is and what are the benefits of obtaining the qualification? If so, then read […]

It’s not a Lamborghini it’s a Volkswagen…
Mar 22, 2023
Title
It’s not a Lamborghini it’s a Volkswagen…
Excerpt

When it comes to cars, things used to be simple. Most brands were known for a certain type […]