There are some overused phrases in every office. You will find at least one person who will start their conversation with these annoying jargon and continue to do so till the end.
These people don’t realize that they might be making other people uncomfortable with these kinds of jargon.
They seem to be forgetting the natural way of carrying out a conversation instead they are always using these managerial jargon making you confused about what they really want to say.
When you are using these jargon more often then it is quite possible that you might get diverted from what you want to convey.
It will be much easier for your sub-ordinates to understand what you want to say, if you put the words straight without using much used phrases.
As a Manager it is important that you get your job done, so you have to make sure that you practice talking in simple language.
You would definitely not want your sub-ordinates to get irritated halfway in the conversation because that means they are not getting what you want out of them.
They all look lost which means you have to explain the same thing over and over again wasting their time and yours.
Why would you want to invest your energy in something which is not productive at all?
Now time means money to every business and when you are wasting time like this then it will hamper your reputation as Manager as well and you are also answerable to your superiors.
So it is better to do away with the phrases that are not fruitful in any ways instead act as a barrier in the communication.
40 Phrases and Words to Avoid at Workplace:
If you are still not sure what we are talking about and whether you use these phrases or not, then here is a list about 40 phrases that you must try to avoid at the workplace.
Words and Phrases Table:
| Words | Phrases |
|---|---|
| Going Forward | It doesn’t give any specific time period, but it arises many questions regarding when to start things as going forward can be related to so many time frames. |
| Reach out | What exactly do you mean when you say reach out? |
| I’ll see | When you are using this phrase then it means that you are not committing to the work so you cannot be held responsible if the job is not done. |
| Quote unquote | This phrase doesn’t mean anything and most importantly, it is not the right way of saying it as well. So, why waste your time in blurting out something that doesn’t make sense. |
| So | Starting your sentence with a ‘So‘ seems like you are announcing something rather than saying something. Therefore, drop the So from your sentence in the beginning. |
| Right | In the same way, if you are using Right at the end of your sentence, then that means you are not sure about what you are saying and you need confirmation from the listener. |
| Low-hanging fruits | No one have any idea what you want to mean when you say these words and be honest to yourself, do you really know what you mean when you use this phrase! |
| Value added | Which value are you talking about? |
| Win-Win | Most of us use this phrase, but there is nothing like Win-win it can be just a single win and the message will be conveyed just right. |
| Move the goal post | Are you serious? Do you really want to do that? What do you mean when you say such thing? |
| Get the ball rolling | Another common phrase used in the office. Instead, you can simply say you want to start off the work right away. |
| Think outside the box | Sound silly and you don’t have any idea about what is expected out of you when your Manager says this to you. |
| That’s impossible | This is one phrase that should not come out of your mouth at all when you are in the office premise. |
| Okay | If you are trying to put across your thought in a commanding tone, then ending your sentence with an Okay is not good at all. |
| That’s not my job | If someone is asking for help from you and you are replying in such a manner, then it shows your rude behavior. Instead, be polite and help your team member. |
| No Problem | Many uses this in reply to Thank You, but they are not aware that it is not the correct reply. You must say You are welcome when someone is thanking you for something. |
| He’s a jerk | If you are involved in name calling, then you can be sure about one thing that you are getting into the bad books of your boss which you definitely don’t want. |
| It’s not fair | Instead of crying over why you didn’t get promoted while he got the spot, collect all the facts and question the person responsible, who can give you a correct answer. |
| It’s surreal | Don’t use this without understanding what the term stands for. You just cannot use the phrase because you feel that will make you popular. |
| This may be silly, but | If you are saying this before making your statement then you can be sure about one thing that what follows next becomes totally meaningless. |
| Drill-down | If you want your colleagues to look at something or examine something deeply, then ask them to do, instead of using the heavy word like this, |
| Best of breed | Are you complimenting your employee or categorizing them. So, just make sure when you want to say he is the best, just convey it that way without much ado. |
| End of play | So you mean that everything is done for today, right? Nobody is playing around here so it is good to use the ‘That’s it for today, see you all tomorrow’. |
| It’s on my radar | If you have your eyes on someone, then it is not necessary that you convey the message in this way. |
| Positive momentum | Want your team to move forward in the same pace that they are doing now? |
| No Brainer | When you say so, your sub-ordinate will not give any importance to the work at all so avoiding this phrase will help you get the work done quickly. |
| Keep your eye on the ball | Are you playing any game, then why use this phrase instead just tell them to be careful while doing the work. |
| Game changing | Instead of using this phrase you can ask your sub ordinates to come up with some new ideas that will help the company present themselves in a completely new light. |
| Leverage | This simple word has different meaning so don’t you think it is better to explain things rather than using the phrase and keeping your people confused about what you want to say. |
| Touch Points | ‘Here are the things that you have to work on’ is how you explain things in a concrete way. |
| Dive deeper | Do you want the employees to splash into the water ? If no then why use this phrase instead ask them to research more. |
| Milestones | This phrase is in use since time immemorial so it is better that we stop using it now. |
| You guys | The sentence can also be completed without using Guys. What if there are girls too in the group? |
| I’m busy | No you are not. If you are a team member then you always need to take out time to solve queries. |
| Move the needle | If you are not sewing then don’t move the needle instead make progress in your work. |
| Execute | Accomplished something according to the plan then share it rather than confining yourself to just execution. |
| Across the piece | Want to cover the whole thing then it is better to explain it in simple words and avoid this overtly used business jargon. |
| Are we on the same page? | We are not in school so ask for agreement directly without using this old school jargon. |
| All hands on deck | If you want help, you will have to ask for it, shouting out phrases won’t help. |
| You should have | If it is that important, then make it clearer rather than crying out later about not getting things done. |
1. Going Forward:
It doesn’t give any specific time period, but it arises many questions regarding when to start things as going forward can be related to so many time frames.
2. Reach out:
What exactly do you mean when you say reach out?
Instead of using this phrase you can actually explain that you are available whenever they need you.
3. I’ll see:
When you are using this phrase then it means that you are not committing to the work so you cannot be held responsible if the job is not done.
This is not at all a professional attitude instead you can say that you will do the job by the end of the week. It will be a much clear answer.
4. Quote unquote:
This phrase doesn’t mean anything and most importantly, it is not the right way of saying it as well. So, why waste your time in blurting out something that doesn’t make sense.
5. So:
Starting your sentence with a ‘So‘ seems like you are announcing something rather than saying something. Therefore, drop the So from your sentence in the beginning.
6. Right:
In the same way, if you are using Right at the end of your sentence, then that means you are not sure about what you are saying and you need confirmation from the listener.
7. Low-hanging fruits:
No one have any idea what you want to mean when you say these words and be honest to yourself, do you really know what you mean when you use this phrase!
8. Value added:
Which value are you talking about?
There is not much explained when you are saying about adding value unless you explain it.
9. Win-Win:
Most of us use this phrase, but there is nothing like Win-win it can be just a single win and the message will be conveyed just right.
10. Move the goal post:
Are you serious?
Do you really want to do that? What do you mean when you say such thing?
11. Get the ball rolling:
Another common phrase used in the office. Instead, you can simply say you want to start off the work right away.
12. Think outside the box:
Sound silly and you don’t have any idea about what is expected out of you when your Manager says this to you.
13. That’s impossible:
This is one phrase that should not come out of your mouth at all when you are in the office premise.
If you say such thing, then it shows your negative approach towards your job which is not good at all.
14. Okay:
If you are trying to put across your thought in a commanding tone, then ending your sentence with an Okay is not good at all.
15. That’s not my job:
If someone is asking for help from you and you are replying in such a manner, then it shows your rude behavior. Instead, be polite and help your team member.
16. No Problem:
Many uses this in reply to Thank You, but they are not aware that it is not the correct reply. You must say You are welcome when someone is thanking you for something.
17. He’s a jerk:
If you are involved in name calling, then you can be sure about one thing that you are getting into the bad books of your boss which you definitely don’t want.
18. It’s not fair:
Instead of crying over why you didn’t get promoted while he got the spot, collect all the facts and question the person responsible, who can give you a correct answer.
19. It’s surreal:
Don’t use this without understanding what the term stands for. You just cannot use the phrase because you feel that will make you popular.
20. This may be silly, but:
If you are saying this before making your statement then you can be sure about one thing that what follows next becomes totally meaningless.
Some other phrases are as follows:
21. Drill-down:
If you want your colleagues to look at something or examine something deeply, then ask them to do, instead of using the heavy word like this, which will make them nervous even before they start working, serving you no purpose at all.
22. Best of breed:
Are you complimenting your employee or categorizing them. So, just make sure when you want to say he is the best, just convey it that way without much ado.
23. End of play:
So you mean that everything is done for today, right?
Nobody is playing around here so it is good to use the ‘That’s it for today, see you all tomorrow’.
24. It’s on my radar:
If you have your eyes on someone, then it is not necessary that you convey the message in this way.
Watching out whether he is abiding by the team’s rule is good, but using this phrase doesn’t work always.
25. Positive momentum:
Want your team to move forward in the same pace that they are doing now?
Then keep them motivated by telling them they are doing a great job. Using this phrase will make them look for the meaning first and that will be a loss to your productivity.
26. No Brainer:
When you say so, your sub-ordinate will not give any importance to the work at all so avoiding this phrase will help you get the work done quickly.
27. Keep your eye on the ball:
Are you playing any game, then why use this phrase instead just tell them to be careful while doing the work.
28. Game changing:
Instead of using this phrase you can ask your sub ordinates to come up with some new ideas that will help the company present themselves in a completely new light.
29. Leverage:
This simple word has different meaning so don’t you think it is better to explain things rather than using the phrase and keeping your people confused about what you want to say.
30. Touch Points:
‘Here are the things that you have to work on’ is how you explain things in a concrete way.
31. Dive deeper:
Do you want the employees to splash into the water?
If no then why use this phrase instead ask them to research more.
32. Milestones:
This phrase is in use since time immemorial so it is better that we stop using it now.
33. You guys:
The sentence can also be completed without using Guys. What if there are girls too in the group?
34. I’m busy:
No you are not. If you are a team member then you always need to take out time to solve queries.
35. Move the needle:
If you are not sewing then don’t move the needle instead make progress in your work.
36. Execute:
Accomplished something according to the plan then share it rather than confining yourself to just execution.
37. Across the piece:
Want to cover the whole thing then it is better to explain it in simple words and avoid this overtly used business jargon.
38. Are we on the same page?
We are not in school so ask for agreement directly without using this old school jargon.
39. All hands on deck:
If you want help, you will have to ask for it, shouting out phrases won’t help.
40. You should have:
If it is that important, then make it clearer rather than crying out later about not getting things done.
