Whether it's "swarms of ideas" or "product evangelists," a "cradle-to-grave" approach, or "360-degree thinking," nearly every office across the country will have a boss of some sort at some point in their day. hear speak. If you think no one in your office is doing it, I'm afraid you're probably to blame.
Unfortunately, it has become a mainstay of the office environment and with the amount of attention it is getting, it's a wonder it's still as widely used as it is. It's a phenomenon beautifully portrayed by the character David Brent in The Office, so how do the guilty parties still think it's acceptable to use it, and what are they actually trying to say?
Good communication is essential in the workplace. Messages need to be communicated clearly and effectively to staff so that work is done efficiently and the language we use is a big part of that. More than any other workplace, the corporate world seems to be laden with the curse of boss talk and it is widely and openly despised by the workforce and undermines the authority of those who use it. There seems to be no better way to subvert a message than to wrap it in corporate spin, so why is it so popular?
Historically, people have always used language to enforce their authority or gain admiration. They are always looked up to who can captivate people with their voice by telling a story and with language you have the ability to create a sensation and a feeling with the words you use and the style in which they are spoken.
This is great if you're writing a novel or producing a monologue, but in the business world where ideas and messages need to be conveyed clearly and concisely, extensive business language can seem out of place and inappropriate. At best the user looks silly and at worst they seem to cover up a lack of knowledge. This is useless in management and can undermine a critical process or piece of information. It can also have a demotivating effect on employees who just want to be addressed as a human being.
Phrases like "we'd better not let the grass grow too long on this" and "wouldn't want to hurt the demographic" might be fun to read, but at work there's nothing worse than someone who can't get his or her . point about without relying on the boss's crutch. For the sake of motivation, clarity, and common sense, let's all make a New Year's resolution to take out Boss for good.
Of course, we all want a good giggle, so if you have any suggestions for the worst business sense, leave us a comment.
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