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Is The Sound of One Redundant Employee Crying?"

This document provides critiques and suggested alternatives for common workplace phrases that are considered meaningless or insincere. It analyzes phrases like "Thanks in advance", "It is what it is", "At the end of the day", "With all due respect", and "At this moment in time" and argues they are vague, redundant or used to soften undesirable messages. The document suggests more direct, honest and thoughtful replacements for each phrase.

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Atiril Atifah
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56 views

Is The Sound of One Redundant Employee Crying?"

This document provides critiques and suggested alternatives for common workplace phrases that are considered meaningless or insincere. It analyzes phrases like "Thanks in advance", "It is what it is", "At the end of the day", "With all due respect", and "At this moment in time" and argues they are vague, redundant or used to soften undesirable messages. The document suggests more direct, honest and thoughtful replacements for each phrase.

Uploaded by

Atiril Atifah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Expression Advice and Meaning

Thanks in advance! This demeaning management phrase, often accompanying some


unwanted assignment, is the polite corporate way of saying,
“You’d better do this terrible thing or I’ll eat your paycheck.”
Instead: Cut to the chase with “I know you don’t want to do this…
in advance.”
It is what it is. This desperate filler phrase is a longer version of “whatever,” and
a shorter version of “I have nothing helpful to contribute, but
don’t want to stop talking yet.” Weakest. Advice. Ever.
Instead: Memorize this clever sounding T.S. Eliot line: “If you
aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?”
At the end of the day… This perspective-seeking cliché sounds even worse than cousins
“all in all” and “when push comes to shove,” particularly because
it’s used at all hours of the day.
Instead: Say “ultimately” and you’ll sound more like a classy
Bond villain instead of a 19th century factory worker.
With all due respect Almost always coupled with an insult or unsolicited advice, this
phrase is a smarmier way to say, “Prepare to be disrespected.”
Examples include: “With all due respect, you’re fired.”
Instead: Eliminate the preamble. If you’re going to say something
that others might find offensive, just say it or keep quiet.
At this moment in time “I deserve a raise,” you say. “Not at this moment in time,” the
boss replies. What an oddly philosophical way to murder
someone’s dreams. It reminds us of that old business koan: “What
is the sound of one redundant employee crying?”
Instead: Be honest. Rip off that bandage in one swift motion: “I’m
sorry, but that is never going to happen.”
Just sayin How illuminating. Thank you for clarifying that the thing you just
said is a thing you are saying.
Instead: Show an ounce of empathy and ask, “Do you understand
what I’m trying to say?”
I, personally As opposed to, “I, collectively?” Your redundant adverb just stole
an extra second of life from everyone in the room. How do you,
personally, feel about that?
Instead: Just say “I,” or, wear a t-shirt that reads “DISCLAIMER:
the views expressed by this doofus do not reflect the views of
society at large.”
Yolo “You Only Live Once” is mostly an excuse for doing something
selfish, irresponsible, or dumb, but the act itself should be
transgression enough. Don’t punish your friends with this
insufferable abbreviation on top of it.
Instead: Before you speak or act a fool, remember: YODO, too.

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