Survey Reveals Most Overused Workplace Terms

TORONTO -- “At the end of the day,” “it is what it is”: The workplace is overwrought with clichés, buzzwords and industry jargon, often preventing “synergy” between coworkers. Terms and phrases like these are among the most overused in the office, according to a recent survey, and do not offer a “value proposition”.

“Business communication should be clear, straightforward and devoid of industry jargon,” said Kathryn Bolt, president of Accountemps’ Canadian operations. “When terms are overused, they lose their effectiveness.”

The survey was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with 100 senior executives across Canada.

Executives were asked, “What is the most annoying or overused phrase or buzzword in the workplace today?” Their responses included:

* Reach out: As in, “Remember to reach out to customers impacted by the change.”
* It is what it is: As in, “The server is down today, and clients are irate. It is what it is.”
* Silo: As in, “To maximize productivity we are deconstructing departmental silos.”
* Sense of urgency: As in, “Our corporate culture demands a sense of urgency from all employees.”
* Value proposition: As in, “What is the value proposition of this initiative?”
* Align: As in, “We need to align our company values with that of the consumer.”
* Synergy: As in, “Our synergy as a team gives us a competitive advantage.”

Some phrases cited in the most recent survey suggest executives are suffering from recession fatigue, including:

* Recession
* Depression
* Economy
* Do more with less
* Restructuring
* Bailout
* Uncertainty
* Downturn

“While it can be tempting to rely on buzzwords from time to time, employees increasingly are being evaluated on their communication skills,” added Bolt. “Avoiding overused terms, particularly in formal communication, will help workers communicate more efficiently and professionally.”