Accountemps Identifies Most Annoying Buzzwords in the Workplace in New Survey

 According to an Accountemps survey of human resources managers, certain terms and phrases are more common, and irritating, than others. For example, “dynamic,” “deep dive” and “leverage” were among the most overused and annoying business buzzwords cited by survey respondents.

“When it comes to effective communication in the workplace, the importance of clarity cannot be stressed enough,” said Dianne Hunnam-Jones, Canadian district president of Accountemps. “To avoid ambiguity and confusion when communicating, the use of buzzwords and industry jargon should be avoided in favor of straightforward and uncomplicated language.”

Managers were asked, “What is the most annoying or overused phrase or buzzword in the
workplace today?” The most popular responses included:

• “Out of pocket”
• “Deep dive”
• “Forward-thinking”
• “Dynamic”
• “Let me get back to you.”
• “Pick your brain”
• “Employee engagement”
• “LOL”

Some of the phrases selected may suggest that workers are feeling more comfortable venting about their workloads and salaries:

• “It’s not my job.”
• “It’s above my pay grade.”
• “When am I going to get a raise?”
• “I am overwhelmed.”
• “Crunch time”

Many well-worn words and sayings were cited in the most recent survey were also found in similar surveys conducted in 2004 and 2009:

• “Win-win”
• “Value-added”
• “Think outside the box.”
• “Leverage”
• “At the end of the day”
• “Circle back”
• “Synergy”