Buzz
Have you ever pushed yourself to deliver '110 percent' on a project? If so, you’ve likely been part of a workplace filled with corporate jargon. This type of language, often used by employees and managers, can sound impressive but often lacks substance. You’ll hear these phrases in emails, meetings, and casual office chats.
In a recent study, the language learning platform Preply.com polled over 1500 American office workers, both in-person and remote, to identify the most annoying workplace phrases. Do you share their sentiments?
1. New Normal
This phrase, often used to describe accepting an uncomfortable new reality, claimed the top spot. A significant 43% of participants ranked it as their most disliked term in professional environments.
2. Culture
More precisely, company culture, which refers to the guiding principles or ethos employees are encouraged to follow.
3. Circle Back
Returning to a subject you likely preferred to avoid makes this expression particularly unpopular in workplace discussions.
4. Boots on the Ground
This military term, used to describe deploying people to handle a task, often elicits groans from many.
5. Give 110 Percent
Mathematically unachievable, yet people continue to use this phrase despite its obvious impossibility.
6. Low-Hanging Fruit
Aiming for an easy target? You’re not challenging yourself enough.
7. Win-Win
When a situation has no clear drawbacks, it’s beneficial for everyone involved.
8. Move the Needle
If you’re trying to drive progress or generate excitement, this overused expression might not be the best choice.
9. Growth Hacking
Pursuing new objectives doesn’t always require the use of terms like 'hacking' to sound innovative.
10. Think Outside the Box
Truly innovative thinking would mean avoiding the cliché phrase 'think outside the box' altogether.
According to Preply.com, respondents were less bothered by phrases like 'at the end of the day,' 'table this,' or 'game changer.' Rest assured, the site put in maximum effort to compile these findings. For more insights on overused jargon, revisit Preply's site.
