Volume 4, Issue 12 - December 2003

Trendy Phrases...
and Buzz Words

By Rhonda Scharf (Finniss)

Our minds can absorb information four times faster than the average person can speak. That means that, at any given time, three quarters of your brain is working on something else. We may simultaneously be aware of the temperature, of distractions in the room, and of other conversations taking place. The problem is that sometimes 'the something else' is more interesting than the main event! As communicators, we need to fully engage the brain of the person with whom we are speaking. We need to be aware of the bad habits we have that encourage the listener to go somewhere else in her mind.

One of the reasons that listeners allow their minds to wander is because of irritating habits or phrases. It seems that every year we get a new catch phrase that people use ad nauseam. Remember Seinfeld's "yada yada yada"? Did you, like me, roll your eyes whenever you heard it? It was so overused I got tired of hearing it. When someone used that phrase I would wonder if they knew how irritating it was and that using it did not reflect well on them.

Today, the most popular phrase seems to be "24-7". We no longer say "seven days a week, 24 hours a day," we say "24-7." What is the problem with these trendy phrases? The problem lies in the fact that they are overused and they encourage the listener to tune out.

Recently I saw a survey that was conducted in a government department asking people to submit their most popular work-related buzz words and phrases. Here are the top five:

1. Synergy. This one popped up in the early '90s and hasn't disappeared. It seems that we must have synergy in everything we do! The next time you bring a group of people to work on a project, don't tell them it's because there is better synergy. Tell them that we work better together.

2. Framework. Trendy phrases have appropriate use and inappropriate use. If framework is the appropriate phrase, it is fine to use it sparingly. But avoid asking people to give you the framework of a situation. That usage isn't appropriate.

3. Ballpark. Not the Blue Jays kind of ballpark, but a 'ballpark' figure. It is a trendy way to say that the person is approximating, or even guessing. When someone tells me she is giving me a ballpark figure, I will assume it isn't correct, that it will be an estimate. If a plumber were to give me a ballpark figure on what it would cost to fix my plumbing, I would be skeptical of that figure, and assume a higher one would be more accurate.

4. Bottom line. Some people use this phrase as if they owned it. They will interrupt you mid-sentence and ask you to get to the bottom line. This phrase is useful when reviewing financial statements, but if your co-worker is telling you about a problem he is experiencing, there is no bottom line. Use bottom line if you want the bottom line of a financial report; otherwise, remove this trendy phrase from your lexicon.

5. Think outside the box. Another one that has been around for more than a decade. It would give you more credibility to use a different expression, or a different way to describe what you are looking for.

The problem with overusing these types of phrases is the loss of credibility you immediately receive. As soon as you utter your favourite overused phrase, others will (invisibly) roll their eyes and tune you out.

To keep our listeners in tune with our message, we need to be aware of the traps we fall into. Trendy phrases represent a minor trap, and one which is easily fixed. By removing them, you elevate your credibility and keep your listener tuned in to what you are saying.

Rhonda Scharf (Finniss), CSP is a Certified Professional Speaker, Trainer and Author and President of ON THE RIGHT TRACK - Training & Consulting and is available to deliver customized training programs or keynote speeches at your next convention. Call her today at 1-877-213-8608 or e-mail Rhonda@on-the-right-track.com. Why not take a moment and sign up here for her complimentary quarterly newsletter.