"Communication is the problem to the answer," is a line from the 10CC song "The Things We Do For Love." Well in the office place, according to a survey by Accountemps, Menlo Park, Calif., communication is a big problem because of the use of jargon.
Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps, said, "When business or industry terms become overused, people stop paying attention to them. The best communicators use clear and straightforward language that directly illustrates their points."
The survey asked 150 senior executives "What is the most annoying or overused phrase or buzzword in the workplace today?" Their responses included:
- Leverage: As in, "We intend to leverage our investment in IT infrastructure across multiple business units to drive profits."
- 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."
- Viral: As in, "Our video has gone viral."
- Game changer: As in, "Transitioning from products to solutions was a game changer for our company."
- Disconnect: As in, "There is a disconnect between what the consumer wants and what the product provides."
- Value-add: As in, "We have to evaluate the value-add of this activity before we spend more on it."
- Circle back: As in, "I'm heading out of the office now, but I will circle back with you later."
- Socialize: As in, "We need to socialize this concept with our key stakeholders."
- Interface: As in, "My job requires me to interface with all levels of the organization."
- Cutting edge: As in, "Our cutting-edge technology gives us a competitive advantage."
Accountemps conducted a similar survey in 2004. Among the common words cited in both surveys were: At the end of the day; synergy; solution; think outside the box; on the same page; and customer-centric.Even our current economic climate has some tired buzzwords, the company noted. Recession topped the list of overused terms, followed by depression, economy, do more with less, restructuring, downsizing, gloom and doom, pay freeze, bailout and overworked.
"Nearly everyone is guilty of using buzzwords from time to time," Mr. Messmer noted. "But professionals are evaluated increasingly on their ability to communicate. Avoiding overused terms, particularly in formal communication, can help workers more effectively convey their message."
For more information about Accountemps, a subsidiary of Robert Half International, visit
