You know them when you hear them: those words and phrases thrown around in meetings and in memos that just make you groan.
But could you or your finance staffers be guilty of using any of them?
The folks at Accountemps just released their list of their 20 most annoying buzzwords and phrases in business today. Take a look at this year’s list to see how many sound familiar.
Some repeat offenders
Check out the words and phrases currently driving employees across the country crazy:
- Out of pocket
- Deep dive
- Forward-thinking
- Dynamic
- Let me get back to you
- Pick your brain
- Employee engagement
- LOL
- It’s not my job
- It’s above my pay grade
- When am I going to get a raise?
- I am overwhelmed
- Crunch time
- Win-win
- Value-added
- Think outside the box
- Leverage
- At the end of the day
- Circle back, and
- Synergy.
You probably want to circulate this list in your department to see if folks are inadvertently annoying co-workers, colleagues … even customers or suppliers.
Of course, awareness isn’t a cure-all. It’s worth noting that just because a buzzword makes the annoying list doesn’t mean it will gracefully fade into the sunset. Entries 14-20 have occupied spots on the list since 2004.
But there’s more you can do.
Make it personal, too
No doubt the Accountemps list will resonate with you and the members of your team.
Don’t stop there — use this list to open a dialogue with your staffers.
Are there words bandied around in your own company or department that have risen to the level of “most annoying”? Think about ones that have either become meaningless from overuse or are in some way politically charged in your particular workplace.
You might want to assemble a list of your own, just for Finance. That way you can try to steer clear of them. Instead of a swear jar, why not create an annoying buzzword jar? Someone says something on the list and a dollar goes in the jar.
Then you can treat staffers to coffee and doughnuts one morning with the cash collected.
