“There he goes again, flaunting his management mumbo jumbo”
This is a common feeling that many of us get (and some of us give rise to) while listening to people talk at work. But do we correctly understand this popular management lingo?
While some may use these phrases merely to impress, others could use them correctly to send a message. Here are the 10 most commonly used buzzwords at the workplace;
1. Out of the box thinking
When you walk up to your manager with a problem he says, “Why don’t you try some out of the box thinking to come to the solution?”
Surely creative thinking could get you the answer, but some managers use this to evade the question until he can think of a solution.
2. Let’s circle back
Isn’t the distance shorter when you go in a straight line as opposed to going around in a circle?
Circling back is a fancy term meaning let’s meet again later. This is generally used when there is some additional work required to be done before discussion can begin.
3. Synergy
This term became popular during the making of the atom bomb when energy from different particles came together in synergy to cause a huge explosion.
While no organization would encourage an explosion, the intent behind this phrase is to promote team bonding and collective thinking.
4. Let’s touch base
Use this statement on a college campus and teenagers will burst out laughing on your face. If only our leaders knew what connotations this phrase carries with it.
On a professional note, this simply means let’s catch up.
5. EOD (End of Day)
“I need this done by EOD” is commonly heard across the office floor.
A sweet and more acceptable way of saying that you have to complete the task or you don’t get to go home. A modified version of this is COB (Close of Business) which generally means 6 pm local time.
6. Paradigm
This is an exciting word to hear and many users may not even get the pronunciation correct!
While it broadly means ‘example’, it is mostly used to indicate a specific thought process – perspective.
The term has given rise to statements like Paradigm Shift, suggesting a change in approach.
7. 50000-Foot View
“Give me a 10,000/20,000…50,000 foot view” is very commonly used by senior management.
A polite way of asking only for the highlights, this is used when someone wants to confirm the overall status of a task.
8. More for less
Quickly becoming part of every management talk, this term is a hot favorite during economic uncertainty.
Simply meaning do more expect less, this is an effective way to indicate to the team that times are tough.
9. Have to take it to the next level
Mainly used when one is falling short of expectations.
This need not always mean bad as your manager could be indicating that you have the potential of doing much better and working at the next level (of performance).
10. Win-win
It is safe to assume that every manager must know and use this term.
Simply put, it means that everyone benefits and the final result serves the objective of every entity involved. You may find a manager telling his team member that while he cannot take the day off, he could log in from home and complete the work. The task gets completed while the employee can save time commuting – a win-win for both.
