Candidates and job seekers are often advised to avoid describing themselves in the corporate jargon
, like "proactive problem solver" or "team player" or "works well under pressure" but to give short examples to illustrate these assertions on their CVs.
The issue came to the fore again recently after the BBC website ran an article highlighting the term "re-mode", an expression used in a government video asking people to consider altering their normal form of transport during the London Olympics.
But whether you love them or hate them once a candidate has started with the company or organisation you may find that "corporate speak" is ubiquitous making you feel you've landed among a bunch of extra terrestrials and it would help if you knew what people were talking about.
Here is a selection of the most unloved phrases and a slightly tongue-in-cheek explanation of what some of them actually mean.
Brain storm, now re-branded as having idea showers, means inviting people to put forward ideas or solutions to a particular situation usually when no-one has a clue what is the best thing to do.
"I've got you on my radar" is a sinister expression designed to inspire fear in the hearts of recipients which loosely translated means "I'm watching you" and not because I think you're lovely!
Some companies encourage their staff to be product evangelists, which means no matter what you actually think about a product's qualities you absolutely have to say how wonderful and vital to your existence it is on every possible occasion.
"Let's touch base about that offline" we think means the speaker is suggesting a private chat.
Getting ducks in a row is another pet hate. Have you ever seen ducks arranging themselves into tidy lines? What is wrong with simply getting organised?
Frequently people talk about "cascading down" information following a meeting or decision, when what they really mean is that they intend to send everyone a memo telling them what has been decided and why.
When creative thinking or innovative solutions or even just a bit of extra effort are needed we are encouraged to "push the envelope" or "go the extra mile" or indulge in a paradigm shift.
Then there is the totally unnecessary addition of a two-letter word to words that speak for themselves without it as in free up and head up.
Perhaps it is time for us all to "take ownership" of office language and launch a campaign for the return of plain English. You never know, if it caught on it might result in greater clarity, greater efficiency and the ability to provide a better service all round.