Here’s my list: Those over-used buzz words.

I opt for a simple description of a buzz-word: An original concept whose meaning becomes fuzzier and woolier with each instance of ineffectual use. 

Using a buzz-word is, in and of itself, not wrong, of course; it’s the over-use of such a word which obfuscates true meaning and ultimately, hinders rather than furthers clear communication.

We are all prone to inject our communication, especially the formal ones, and presentations, with common buzz-words. It is akin to displaying a verbal badge, affirming our belonging with the group that claims acquaintance to these buzz-words. 

We want to be in the know, not be left-behind, and swim with the tide. I find myself, increasingly resisting the use of such words and opting for simpler, clearer, even if longer sentences, to ensure a firmer grasp of the topic of my expression. Not easy.

1. Value-addition: Used to describe all and sundry, from a new product feature to mundane tweaks.

2. Brand equity: Anything that goes with ‘brand’ actually. ‘Brand-value’, ‘brand-strength’, ‘brand-visibility’ can sometimes, (not always), point to an inward-looking approach and neglect a real assessment of weaknesses.

3. Paradigm-shifting: All events, great and small, cannot be paradigm-shifting. Ought to be used selectively, for those genuine, transformational, and likely permanent shifts.

4. Cutting-edge: Time will come, when a change of the office stationery will be labelled, cutting-edge.

5. Core values: Bandied about, and expected to be at the tips of all tongues, from the janitor to the CEO, but very rarely are these statements deconstructed for practical application. It is fallacious to assume that an employee would naturally co-opt an organization’s core values, or by default.

6. Think outside the box: Yes, we must, as long as we are first executing the laid-out strategy assiduously, and without distractions.

7. Best practices: These set of ideals to be adhered to, can be so vague as to be brandished like a flaming sword without any reference points. The mere use of the word is supposed to allay all fears, and quell all doubts.

8. Optimized solutions: Which customer would want broad, generic and bloated solutions?

9. Robust: This tall claim is applied to prop up descriptions and is used as a needless qualifier, instead of using words that are more appropriate to the item being described.

10. Synergize: Synergy happens when the whole is greater than the sum of parts. Falls flat when everything and everybody is supposed to synergize.

11. Take it to the next level: Often used, without articulating what the next level really looks like, alongside metrics to define attainment.

12. Low-hanging fruit: Supposed to indicate opportunity that can be appropriated easily. Again, when misapplied, it overlooks its context within a broader set of choices.

In the words of Michael Travis, an executive search consultant, "Aspiring managers would do well to remember that if you can't express your idea without buzz-words, there may not be an idea there at all." 

So next time, you want to enthusiastically embrace a buzz- word, you can opt instead, for succinct but clear words, and dazzle with your sparkling clarity of thought.

Image credit: brandrants.com

Here's my list: Those commonly used, incorrect words.

Ever wonder about some routinely used words and phrases, that many of us have simply adopted as part of acceptable parlance? Plenty of them are uniquely Indian (bless our hearts), and while some induce quite a few fall-out-of-your-chair funny laughs, others are less charming. So, in no particular order, I’m listing here 12 usages, with the bright-eyed hope that they might cause us to pause, and think before we pen.

1. Updation: I dare say we have the software industry to thank for this one. This is a recent addition to our lexicon. How about such and such ‘needs to be updated’ instead? Even MS Office marked it out as an error and suggested the insipid ‘updating’.

2. Affect/Effect: “Use ‘affect’ as a verb meaning to influence something and ‘effect’ for the something that was influenced”, thus sayeth Vocubulary.com. As in, ‘She attempted to affect me, and it had the desired effect’.  

3. Learnings: Almost everyone uses this; and it does have a pompous air about it. Whatever happened to ‘key lessons learnt?’

4. Loose or lose: You may loosen your hold without losing your mind. Come now, this ain’t that hard.

5. Do the needful: This is often used to imply that the recipient is supposed to grasp the subject matter without additional explanation. You may argue it isn’t altogether incorrect; but perhaps ‘please do what is needed’ will work, and more elegantly at that. Maybe we can do one better and simply say ‘please help’.

6. Revert back: Particularly in my early years, it was almost standard practice to read e-mails closing off with the statutory ‘please revert back’. First of all, to revert is to return to a previous situation or condition. Adding ‘back’ to ‘revert’ is a double whammy. Or should I say double Dutch. Let’s try ‘Reply’ or ‘Respond’, shall we?

7. It’s and Its: It’s refers to a shortened construction of ‘it is’. Therefore it’s correct to say ‘It’s going to be a long day, but use ‘its standards are exacting’.

8. Typo error: Unless you want to say something is a typographical error, stick to ‘typo’.

9. Discuss about: 'Let’s discuss the matter'. Period.

10. Today night: I’ve often heard it being said, “I will complete it by today night”. Truncate the last three words to ‘Tonight’ and voila, shorter, sweeter, smarter.

11. Right and correct: No biggie this, but it’s best to reserve ‘correct’ for something definitive and incontrovertible, and ‘right’ when expressing an opinion or while referring to subjective matter.


12. Preponed: Now this one although technically incorrect, is irresistible, for its sheer convenience. I would gladly pitch for the addition of ‘preponed’ to the Oxford dictionary. We all use it, save for the indefatigable purist. ‘Bring the meeting forward/advance’, is a mouthful. 

No secret sauce to using ‘propah English’, but a case ought to be made for keeping from committing these relatively minor errors; all the more, since much of our communication, even the written word, creates a lasting impression.
 
All said and done, regional quirks and catchphrases all boil pleasingly in the melting cauldron of an ‘original’ language.

And I’m a fan, mind you, and heartily respond with my ‘good name’ on enquiry, run to ‘catch a train’ and can always ‘kindly adjust’.
 

Intractable buzz-words in the next post…

Stop multi-tasking. Now.

For far too long, the ‘art’ of multi-tasking has been considered an enviable skill to master, and women, particularly credited with being naturals at it. The more tasks you can juggle, the better. The more items you can simultaneously clear off your list, the smarter.

I’ve paused to consider the real efficiency of the multi-tasker; and admittedly, I always thought of myself as one. A few months ago, as I sat at my desk, with a dozen files and as many browser tabs open on my laptop, it struck me to take stock of just how much I had accomplished despite being exceedingly busy.

I’d come to work bright and early, had my to-do list next to me - items broken down into tasks and sub-tasks, and a miniaturized version of that larger list comprising activities to be completed that day. As the day wore on, I realized that I’d spent a good portion of my working hours, on low-value, routine tasks and a longer-term project lay untouched, awaiting that elusive hour of uncluttered time. Lumbering on, I had responded to several seemingly urgent e-mails, distracted by every plunk signaling the arrival of yet another one in my inbox (some of them forwards), even diverted to a news maze by clicking on links with more links embedded within.

So, how does one stay productive by deliberately keeping blinkers on, and avoiding the mindless lure of the modern information glut? Can one treat a work day as bands of time dedicated to consciously chosen activities, instead of a seamless day where tasks are handled as they come, and all at once?

For starters, I’m finding the oft-repeated ‘eat that frog’ exhortation to be reliable and practical counsel. Most of us, most of the times, have a tendency to procrastinate, and put off unpleasant, arduous or difficult tasks – whether it’s an uncomfortable conversation with a co-worker, a project that requires skills that may not be a strength, or preparing for a presentation you may not be looking forward to. But tackling that mountain early on, can give one a boost to act on the relative molehills lying ahead.  It also works as a confidence-building measure being accompanied by a sense of accomplishment.

Second, no matter how busy a work-day is, I believe in apportioning time for the higher-value, longer-term, and skill-developing activities. It’s easy to breeze through 9 hours in a relentless execution of mundane tasks; your valuable time pre-determined by other’s priorities. Pretty soon, each of your days has blended into the other and you’re hard-pressed in cultivating the stand-out moments that would have helped shape and sharpen skills necessary for the next level – even for a lateral shift aimed at broadening your perspective and experience.

And lastly, set apart time, for absorbing the trends and practices that are shaping your industry. In the knowledge economy, the value of having a fifty-thousand view of your industry matters, and can sometimes mean the difference for an elevation, between the candidate with a keen understanding of the minutiae, and another who’s not only deft in his domain, but has a grasp of where his part fits into the larger whole  of the industry. So, while it’s important to work your tools, it’s also vital to sharpen your axe.

Of course, this list is not exhaustive and may not even scratch the surface of a productivity manual. As well, what works for me, may not work for you. The idea is to present an alternative to the commonly touted ‘virtue’ of multi-tasking, for taking control of the steering wheel at your desk. 

A more intentional and willful accounting of time, a carving out of time chunks for more imaginative work, and an ounce of steely determination can keep you from blurry multi-tasking. Beginning tomorrow.