The things you need to stop saying at work

34 words and phrases you need to STOP using at work

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Work-speak can be seriously cringeworthy. From overused clichés ("blue sky thinking") to nonsensical buzzwords (who can really "give it 110%"?), read on as we look at some of the most annoying workplace phrases that you should avoid at all costs.

Just

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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

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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.

Sorry, but

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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 guilty of this habit than men, which she believes is because they’re “socialised into a passive mindset” and “people-pleasing behaviour”.

No problem

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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.

"This is the way it's always been done"

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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

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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

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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.

Does that make sense?

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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”.

Take it to the next level

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This is an empty, vague and pretty much meaningless phrase in Darlene 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 at 15th place on the Jive Communications survey of 40 most annoying office phrases, it's clear employees aren't loving it either.

Synergy

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In the marketing world, this earned the top spot as the most annoying buzzword of 2019, according to a poll by software company Magnolia. “It may be easier... to fill your speech with familiar stock phrases,” says Darlene 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

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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 regularly used is that it loses its value – everyone is claiming to be motivated, so why not use a different word?

Driven

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Although if you’re looking for a synonym for “motivated”, steer clear of “driven” (pun intended). Try using synonyms such as "ambitious" or "determined" instead.

Blue sky thinking

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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.”

Take it offline

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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.”

Leverage

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Ranked as the 11th most annoying word by TrustRadius survey respondents, “leverage” is so annoying because it’s usually used when a shorter, simpler word would suffice.

Reach out

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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.

Ping me

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As in “ping me an email”. According to workplace expert Lynn Taylor: “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.

Growth hacking

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Coined by consultancy boss Steve Ellis, founder of GrowthHackers, in 2010, the term essentially means using strategies to focus on growth, particularly in start-up companies. But focusing on growth is nothing new – it’s what all good entrepreneurs have been doing since, well, pretty much the dawn of time. Ditch the trendy vocab and just call it growth.

Deliver

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Pizza and letters 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.

Collaborate

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The word “collaborate” is quickly becoming a meaningless corporate buzzword, with a TrustRadius survey of more than 700 professionals ranking it among the most annoying business buzzwords of 2019.

Disruptor

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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”.

Going forward

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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.

Empower

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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

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In the UK, “touch base” ranked as the most annoying phrase in a Glassdoor survey, with almost a quarter of respondents saying it was the most annoying of all. In the US, it featured in the Jive Communications survey as one of the top 40 most irritating office words and phrases. Unless you're playing baseball, don't use it.

Give it 110%

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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.

As a millennial

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How not to start a sentence if you're under 35 and talking 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.”

Can I borrow you for a sec?

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A survey of 2,000 workers by reed.co.uk found that 13% thought "Can I borrow you for a sec?" ("sec" as in "second") was the most frustrating work phrase, and 41% believe it to be the most overused in the workplace.

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