Jargons- Simply annoying!

Along with people coming in late for meetings, co-workers stealing credit, loud and ineffective managers, the use of business jargons are right up there on my list of pet peeves.

Sure, some level understanding of common business practises are necessary for communication but i think more managers are sprouting them to be seen as a knowledgeable insider. I do find my blood pressure boiling over at a tacky catchphrase being used once too often.

In no particular order of irritation factor:

1. 'I-get-where-you're-coming-from'
2. 'Think-outside-the-box'
3. 'take-it-offline'
4. 'core competencies'
5. 'value propositions'
6. 'leverage'
7. 'synergy'

It absolutely jars me when when the word 'strategy' appears in more grammatical morphologies than the english language permits. A typical management meeting often accomodates the likes of a few irritating marketing folks who rattles on an on about 'strategic focus','strat plans', 'strategizing', 'strategic levers' yada yada... we got your point the first time round, stop waffling and get to the substance now won't cha.

As if sitting through a meeting heavily laden with corporatespeak is not painful enough, these days, drug reps are joining in the fray. While it is unfair to assume that all drug reps are not clued in on general business concepts, there is a good majority who are still pretty unaware of what goes on in the backoffice.

An overzealous rep repeatedly tried my patience when he kept bringing up suggestions to improve the 'positioning' of the brand during team meetings. not that have a superiority complex issue, but i would be much more receptive to his ideas had he actually displayed any indication of knowledge in the area of brand positioning. After a once too often push to adjust the pricing of the drug (which drug rep never thinks their drugs are overpriced?) which he attribute to a case of 'poor positioning', i lost it and asked him for the definition of the word in marketing terms. He never brought up the subject again.

or the time when all I hear from a fellow manager's presentation is an avalanche of jargons. from the time he started about the 'strategic focus' to 'leveraging on existing strengths' to highlighting the 'unique selling proposition' to creating positive 'value propositions' to key 'customer segments' to 'going forward' with 'launching new initiatives' etc etc... it's marketing 101 all over again..