Do you ever get tired of the meaningless things your boss has to say(?) You know, the old cliché’s that are really meant to make them appear to be smarter and/or a better leader than they really are. The funny thing is, if you really pay attention, you may even find yourself saying some of these meaningless phrases. At the end of the day, many of them have been drilled into our heads so often, they easily roll off the tip of the tongue.
In a recent article by Mr. Jeff Haden in INC. Magazine, Jeff says, “Whipping out a platitude isn’t just annoying. Using some platitudes also shows you’re lazy – and not just in words but in action.” Here are some of the common phrases Mr. Haden points out in his article – ones that really we should be trying to avoid at all costs…
- “There is no ‘I’ in ‘Team.'”
- “This is probably not what you want to hear.”
- “Work smarter, not harder.”
- “I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.”
- “We’re experiencing a paradigm shift.”
- “Perception is reality.”
- “We don’t have sufficient boots on the ground.”
Click Here to Learn More: Jeff Haden – INC Magazine
Conclusion:
What we should say, and what we actually say, are often two different things. Just because a phrase is often used in the workplace, doesn’t mean that it’s right, or any good for that matter. If your going to communicate with members of your team in this way, at least try to be original!