I'm only saying this as if you didn't already know it "thinking outside the box" is officially the most annoying buzzword and marketing departments are the number one buzzword offenders. Research from MWB Business Exchange shows that not only is it the most annoying of buzzwords, which are annoying generally, by sales and marketing departments are ranked as the worst offenders when it comes to using such phrases. According to the survey 72% of Britons believe that using business buzz words hinders productivity in the office. I'm not sure how they worked that out. I need to brain storm that one and get back to you. I used to avoid all buzz words like the plague, but I find them slipping seamlessly into my everyday language like a virus. At a meeting this morning I said something like "granular level". Just punch me (metaphorically) It doesn't mean anything, but it popped out. In my defence, people in suits who use buzz words seem to bring it out in me. I also suffer from saying things like ballpark a lot although to be fair I do play a lot of softball, so am, you know, always trying to (unsuccessfully) "knock it out of the park". Although I did get cited online for using some buzz word years ago ( for using batmobiling) in a column, but that was less of a business buzz word and more of a piece of geekery. The web has certainly exacerbated the problem with a whole sub genre devoted to things online with eyeballs and bricks and clicks.
I'm not the only one the survey says that more than half of all Briton's admit to using business jargon every other day. One in five rate "thinking outside the box" as the most annoying phrase they hear in the office, while "blue sky thinking" is the most irritating.It seems to be getting worse. As people look around in these dire financial times for something to say (we need to find some ROI and get back on that path to profitability stat before we all get downsized) and realise they have nothing much to offer they fall back on jargon. Senior managers are the worst offenders. Only 38% of under 24 year olds use buzz words compared to a whopping 63% of those aged over 55. This no doubt means the problem will get worse as it filters down to the people who report to those senior managers as it is internal meetings where the problem is at its height. I think we're seeing a "snowballing affect".The study recommends senior managers start banning certain buzz words from meetings to try to reverse the trend.If you work in a large company then you are even more likely to be afflicted. These are the worst offenders with 98% of employees admitting to using jargon every day, compared to only 25% at smaller businesses. When asked who are the worst at overusing business jargon within organisations , sales and marketing staff take the dubious honour, with over a third of agreeing. Interestingly, women are more likely to use business jargon than men, with only a quarter of men admitting to using it compared to over a third of women.Do you use many buzzwords and what are the worst offenders? I'm racking my brains these are I think the worst offenders (and the worst generally).Run that up the flagpole, Brainstorm, Pushing the envelope Let's do lunch, LeverageSynergy Paradigm shift EmpowermentEnterpriseLeverageLong Tail/Long formROIProactive (we need to be)SynergyWeb 2.0
I need to go off and check that I'm buzzword compliant, you can never be too careful.
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Buzzword is actually an annoying buzzword
Perhaps the main reason that "Thinking Outside the Box" provokes so much discomfort amongst some, is that those offended don't like being forced out of their Comfort Zone with challenges to their lazy, ineffective, pursuit of strategies which are long past their Sell-By Date (oops) ?
But - seriously - for pity's sake, buzzwords may be cliches, but they convey in a word or two a clear concept which otherwise takes forever to explain.
The marketing and sales sectors, more than many others, certainly need to get out of the box....
Gordon, here is another game you'll like:
en.wikipedia.org/.../Buzzword_bingo
Might be a natural for a twitter version at conferences....
"touch base"
Buzzword bingo - ideal twitter fun.
@Fred, i think you're right on that, but its amusing when people slightly misuse these buzzwords or string them poorly together.
I just remembered i use heads up all the time.
Funny you should mention Synergy ! As KES's rename made me retch when i saw it.
touch cloth.
SOLUTIONS.
I hate being asked this silly question.....
"What does good look like?"
grrrr
"Let's take this offline" - i.e. talk about it outside the meeting
'Integrated'
'blamestorming'
Less of a word, more of an exchange I thought I'd share:
"Got your snorkel?"
"Yup"
"Right then, let's go for a swim in the thinktank"
k, probably haven't really heard that round the office but thought it was decent banter nonetheless.
What is funny is when people use these words, know they are going to get the piss taken out of them for using them, but then use them anyway (under the veil of 'irony') because they really really can't think of anything else that would best articulate what they want to communicate. Which being professional 'communicators', is probably quite worrying...
Get your snorkel - that is truly terrible.
Gordon Macmillan
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