Here are a few corporate jargon that I could write based on my industry experience, so far. Purely for fun. Not intended to indicate or hurt anyone.
1. As discussed -
Most of the official emails that flow from a higher designation person to a lower designation person will begin with these two words. It is basically a safety protocol initiated by the email sender to officially register a previous conversation so that it may be used as a record at a later date in case of disputes. However, this phrase is always camouflaged as a gentle reminder in case you forgot.
2. Let us take a step back -
Mostly used in official conference calls; and mostly by a person of a senior designation who either did not follow the conversation so far but did not want to show it, or wants to sound quite intellectual by using these phrases. This actually means that you need to rethink all that you said until then in the call and find out the flaw that the senior person wants to point out, even if there is none. Also, it is a very effective phrase when you want to project yourself as the next emerging leader.
3. Ensure we are on the same page –
Well, this does not refer to the pages of the Mills & Boons or John Grisham novel. It is basically a term used to indicate that all the participants of the call or in an email should have the same understanding as the key person who has conveyed that idea/thought. However, it does not really matter if the idea/thought is not factual or logical. But the moment you use this phrase in a discussion, it automatically validates your idea/thought to be worth considering.
4. 30000 feet view –
This is most often used by the senior management folks and business development teams. Here the analogy is the view that the eagle has of the ground below. You have the broader view of what’s happening, but you do not actually have a micro-level view on things. As you keep reducing the distance from the ground, you are supposed to have more accurate details. People who are at top level usually prefer to have this view and not get any closer, because they do not have time for the details, unless there is an escalation. When there is a client escalation, all levels of management are flat on the ground.
5. Take a deep dive –
No, we are training to be penguins. What it actually means is that the group is still hovering on the surface of an idea. But they will at any time jump deep into the idea and come up with brilliant suggestions as soon as their bulb starts glowing. It can be used by anyone in the conversation if they want to take some lead in the conversation and sound like they are going to be the one to bring the solution to the problem.
6. View the big picture –
This is again a very important phrase. It is often used by middle level to top level management folks. At every stage there is a big picture, which is actually a smaller picture to the next higher level. It all depends on what level you are in. And it is most often used for convincing someone to take on something that is next to impossible. For example, see this sentence by a manager – “I know it is difficult to execute the project within a week. But this is where you need to look at the big picture. This opens up potential opportunities with this new client”.
7. This is a high profile client –
I know that when you hear this from your manager, you will begin to doubt what profession you are in. But it basically means, the client is someone with loads of money or lots of connection or lots of attitude. He is a cash cow we need to milk so that our coffers are flowing. Either that, or he is someone who is capable enough to inflict damage to our reputation in the market. It also means clearly that we will always be in the receiving end and the client will be in the giving end, regardless of what he gives.
8. Let us take it offline –
This will be often used in group conference calls. During such calls, some conversations may also branch out between few participants of the call. In order to not disrupt the main call, they would prefer to take the discussion offline, meaning privately between parties after the call. It can also be used in cases where some uncomfortable question is posed to you and you do not have an answer. As a saving grace you can use this phrase, which would indicate to others that you have answers to all the questions, but graciously do not want to digress from this call. You can always fall at someone’s feet later, in private.
9. You need to think out of the box –
Well, it does not mean you have to sit next to a telephone booth when you working your project plan. Basically it means, you need to think of extraordinary solutions for your ordinary problems. If you cannot think of different interesting solutions, then how can your manager present different solutions to the client? This is also called lateral thinking. The world is now bored with the ordinary. Sensation is the new thing. If a person wears a torn pant, he is poor and uncouth. But if he wears torn jeans, then he is making a style statement. So the person who put holes into the jeans was thinking out of the box.
10. Let us work proactively –
Simply means, plug the gaps before the problem even happens. It is basically risk identification and mitigation. But come on, that is boring to say. Instead say, let us be proactive in preventing problems in this project. You need to do bit of a time travel here, at least mentally. Go to a future state. See what problems have happened. Come back and fix it before it has happened. Not able to understand it? Then please read Einstien’s General Theory of Relativity and watch Interstellar movie.
