The most overused buzzwords - survey   |  November 24, 2009  

Survey identifies the most overused buzzwords

By Peter Wolchak

If, at the end of the day, you’re so sick of workplace clichés that you just want to reach out and throttle a co-worker, a recent study from Accountemps is for you.

“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.”

To add a sense of urgency to this stated value proposition, the firm interviewed 100 senior executives across Canada, asking “What is the most annoying or overused phrase or buzzword in the workplace today?” Their responses:


Stop saying that!

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 those of the consumer.”

Synergy: As in, “Our synergy as a team gives us a competitive advantage.”