34 things you should stop saying at work in 2020
Annoying office jargon that needs to stop
Office-speak can be seriously cringe-worthy. From meaningless clichés to nonsensical buzzwords (who can really "give it 110%"?), here are the most annoying workplace phrases that seriously need to get the sack.
Just
Go easy on this one. While the four-letter word might seem harmless, it can undermine what you’re saying, especially if you’re talking about a task you’ve completed. On the flipside, if used by managers – "I just need you to do this…" – it can make tasks sound like they’re small or unimportant, and can even sound passive aggressive. Just don’t do it…
It's not fair
This whiny phrase is a big no-no. Darlene Price, author of Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results, says: “Whether it’s a troubling issue at work or a serious problem for the planet, the point in avoiding this phrase is to be proactive about the issues versus complaining, or worse, passively whining.” Try to get past the injustice and work out a solution to the problem in hand.
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Sorry, but
We all know someone who’s guilty of saying "sorry" all the time. Yet in the workplace, it comes across as a sign of low self-esteem and anxiety, according to psychologists. Maja Jovanovic, sociology professor at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, says women are more guilt of this habit than men, which she believes is because they’re “socialised into a passive mindset” and “people-pleasing behaviour”.
No problem
It’s subtle, but by saying “no problem” rather than “you’re welcome” after being thanked for doing something, it implies the task was a problem to begin with. In order to avoid this negativity, try saying “you’re welcome” or “it’s my pleasure” instead.
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"This is the way it's always been done"
Just because something has always been done in a certain way, doesn’t mean it’s the only way. Saying “this is the way it’s always been done” as a justification makes you come off as lazy and disinterested. According to Dr. Travis Bradberry, author of the best-selling book Emotional Intelligence 2.0, “it’s the kind of thing someone who’s resistant to change would say”.
It's not my fault
Finger-pointing is never a good trait to have, so even if you’ve been slighted at work, be cautious about your wording. Bradberry says, “stick to the facts, and let your boss and colleagues draw their own conclusions about who's to blame”. Alternatives you could try include, “I wasn’t aware of that”, or “I did it that way because…”.
I'll try
Saying "I'll try" indicates that you're unsure of yourself and lack confidence in your abilities. According to Price, the word presupposes possible failure and implies that you may not get a task finished. “Instead, why not say, ‘I’ll get it finished’ or ‘I’ll have it on your desk by 9am’,” she recommends.
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Does that make sense?
According to Jay Sullivan, communications expert and author of Simply Said: Communicating Better at Work and Beyond, “If somebody says, ‘Was that clear?’ ‘Did that make any sense?’ It also sounds like they’re questioning their own ability to be clear”. Instead, try asking if anyone needs any extra information or has any questions.
That's not my job
An absolute workplace no-no, saying “that’s not my job” shows that you’re overly rigid and not a team player. “Your responsibilities aren’t limited to what was listed in your original job description – especially at a start-up,” says Mary Ellen Slayter, founder of Reputation Capital. However, if you do feel that too much is being asked of you, try emphasising your other priorities and explain why you can’t help – for instance explaining that “right now I need to focus on X so I don’t think I can be of help”.
I can't
A can-do attitude goes a long way in the workplace, so try to avoid using this defeatist expression. “I don’t want to hear excuses ever,” says Kuba Jewgieniew, CEO of Realty One Group. “We focus on hiring can-do, positive, creative employees with passion and determination.”
You're wrong
Serial entrepreneur and business guru Andrew Griffiths can't stand these dismissive words. “If you use them, I guarantee there is a trail of resentment following behind you.” Instead, aim for constructive criticism that won't alienate colleagues or clients.
At the end of the day
This irritating cliché has cemented its place as one of the most-hated workplace phrases in the past few decades. If you really mean, “this is what really matters” or are using it to summarise, try replacing it with “ultimately” or “finally”. The only time it’s acceptable? If you’re making plans that are actually at the end of the day.
Think outside the box
The 1980s called and it wants its cliché back. In a survey of 2,000 American workers by OnePoll in conjunction with Jive Communications, “think outside the box” was ranked as the second-most annoying office phrase.
Low-hanging fruit
Management-speak for an easy move in business, whether that be an easy way to cut costs or an obvious clientele to target, this phrase is just downright annoying. Customers aren’t fruit – cut out the buzzwords and say what you really mean.
It's a paradigm shift
How many things can really be described as a “paradigm shift”? In most cases, this phrase can be replaced by others such as “fundamental change”, “major difference” or “critical adjustment”.
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Take it to the next level
This is an empty, vague and pretty much meaningless phrase in Price's view. She suggests you say something more specific, like “We need to sell 30% more this year, and here's why..." as an alternative. Ranked in at 15th place on the Jive Communications' survey of 40 most annoying office phrases, it's clear employees aren't loving it either.
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Synergy
In the marketing world, this has earned the top spot as the most annoying buzzword of 2019, according to a poll by CMS provider Magnolia. “It may be easier... to fill your speech with familiar stock phrases,” says Price. “However... you'll gain more credibility and engage with listeners more effectively when you say what you mean, in your own words." What's wrong with just good old-fashioned "teamwork"?
Motivated
In 2018, LinkedIn published a list of the most overused professional buzzwords and “motivated” came in second place, only beaten by “passionate”. The trouble with it being so highly used is that it uses its value – everyone is claiming to be motivated, so why not use a different word?
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Driven
Although if you’re looking for a synonym for “motivated”, steer clear of “driven” (pun intended). In LinkedIn’s list of most-overused buzzwords for 2016, “driven” ranked in seventh place. Try using synonyms like "ambitious" or "determined" instead.
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Blue sky thinking
Talk about being optimistic or open-minded, but whatever you do, don’t use the phrase “blue sky thinking”. According to a 2018 poll of 100 IT and business professionals, this phrase was the second-most irritating. Commenting on the survey results, Bradlee Allen, Product Evangelist at Fuze, said: “The use of clichés and buzzwords contradicts the move to replicate consumer-like experiences in the workplace and alienates both workers and customers.”
As a millennial
How not to start a sentence if you're under 35 and taking to your older line manager. “I get it,” says Josh Bank, executive VP of Alloy Entertainment. “Telling me you’re a millennial is another way of telling me I’m a clueless old loser who’s going to die shortly.”
Take it offline
This is basically a way of saying, “let’s deal with this another time”. Rated the third-most annoying business buzzword of 2019 in a survey of 764 professionals by TrustRadius, one respondent said: “This is an excuse not to deal with the situation. Most times it is never taken offline and never resolved.”
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Reach out
An irritatingly vague way of saying you’ll contact someone, a survey of 2,000 people by mobile business account ANNA found that “reach out” ranked as the seventh-most annoying workplace phrase. Instead, just say you’ll text, email or call.
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Ping me
As in, “ping me an email”. According to Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert: “People who use jargon like ‘ping me!’ love complicating things and making them sound foreign, cool and geeky.” Meanwhile, job search site CV-Library surveyed 1,000 UK workers and found that just over a quarter felt this piece of jargon needed to go.
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Growth hacking
Coined by consultancy boss Steve Ellis, founder of GrowthHackers, in 2010, the term essentially means using strategies to focus on growth, particularly in startups. But focusing on growth is nothing new – it’s what all good entrepreneurs have been doing since err, pretty much the dawn of time. Ditch the trendy vocab and just call it growth.
Deliver
Pizza, letters and services are delivered – not more abstract concepts such as improvements or priorities. In addition, the word “deliverable” has become a pet peeve among workers, with cloud communication company GetVoIP showing a 151% increase in use of the word over the past 30 years, even though many of us don’t know what it means.
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Collaborate
The word “collaborate” is quickly becoming a meaningless corporate buzzword, with a recent TrustRadius survey of more than 700 professionals ranking it among the most annoying business buzzwords of 2019.
Disruptor
Particularly common in the world of tech, a “disruptor” is essentially a company or person that challenges the status quo, such as Uber. It came out in 23rd place on the TrustRadius survey, with one respondent saying, “this word is overused and I’ve heard it used in absolutely ridiculous ways”.
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Going forward
Because we’re hardly going to start going backwards, are we? “Going forward” frequently ranks highly on lists of the most annoying corporate buzzwords. In fact, according to an ANNA survey of 2,000 London-based professionals, it was the second-most hated piece of office jargon.
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Empower
There's always a risk this buzzword may come across as patronising, so use it with caution. “It's the most condescending transitive verb ever,” says Jennifer Chatman, management professor at the University of California-Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.
Touch base
In the UK, “touch base” ranked as the most annoying phrase this year in a Glassdoor survey, with almost a quarter of respondents saying it was the most annoying of all. In the US, it’s featured in the Jive Communications survey as one of the top 40 most irritating office words and phrases. If you're not playing baseball, don't use it.
Give it 110%
Aside from the fact that it’s not actually possible to give anything “110%”, this word is frequently slated for being overused, meaningless and a total cliché. In a 2018 survey of IT and business professionals, “Give 110%” was ranked as the most annoying phrase of all.
Can I borrow you for a sec?