This Just In…
Buzz phrases that can creep up on the best of us
January 13, 2012
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In the business world, we’ve all been guilty of overusing words, expressions and speech patterns — and drowning out our legitimate points in the process. In a Jan. 11 post for Inc.com, writer Jeff Haden identified some tiresome rhetorical habits we might all do well to avoid.
One example is what he calls “The Fake Agreement,” in which someone pretends to concur while actually expressing the opposite point of view: “I see what you’re saying, but I just don’t think we should take on that project.” Another is “The Double Name,” or the practice of using a person’s name twice in the same sentence to justify his behavior: “What can I say? That’s just Joe being Joe.” And then there’s “The Unsupported Closure,” which thwarts thoughtful discussion: “At the end of the day, we’re here to sell products.”
Another disingenuous verbal maneuver is “The False Uncertainty,” wherein the speaker pretends he or she hasn’t already made up her mind: “I’m not so sure shutting down that facility isn’t the best option after all.”
Haden’s “First Person Theoretical” refers to fake empathy: “Let’s say I’m the average customer. I walk into your store….” He recommends limiting such insincere role playing to once per year, and warns against uttering a “Favorite Word” so often that it becomes all anyone hears when you speak. — Greg Beaubien
Comments
“Google Plus 1” says:
Great post, only too many meetings presented by the same people turn out to be repeats on their previous speeches. Key words a presenter use become boring catch phrases that put you to sleep. I do admit I love your point on “The False Uncertainty,” Only today we find many Exec's using this to edge their bets so as to make sure that it would appear they are right regardless the out come. Hope to read more on your ideas. Now I need to go and make sure I throw out all my old presentation phrases and avoid them all together.
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