How To Interpret Business Clichés

You've just been dismissed from a crucial business meeting in which your supervisor emphasized the importance of being "a good soldier" and "taking one for the team" before the "bottom falls out" and you find yourself in a "mission critical" stage. Got it? How could you? Understanding directives like that would require a decoder ring. Abandon business buzzwords and become a man of action with our helpful hints.

1- "There's no 'I' in team"
Setting: You're packing your bags to make an early exit when suddenly a last-minute deadline rears its ugly head.

What to do: Stay behind and help your coworkers in their tasks. They'll appreciate your dedication and sense of teamwork, and will eventually return the favor.

2- "Be on the ball"
Setting: Your supervisor has just reamed you out for distributing a press release riddled with glaring typos.

What to do: Your own personal sloppiness can reflect upon the entire company, so take the extra time necessary to double- and triple-check your work. If possible, try to do it in two sessions so you can approach it with a fresh set of eyes. You might also want to call in a colleague to help -- they might be able to catch errors you didn't see.

3- "Be proactive"
Setting: It's 3:30 on a Friday afternoon and you've been caught playing solitaire after finishing all of your tasks for the week.

What to do: Rather than twiddling your thumbs, use your time productively. Arrange a brainstorming session with some of your colleagues or take the time to do competitive analysis. Show your assertive attitude and use this bonus stress-free time to help advance your career.

4- "Think outside the box"
Setting: You've been asked to gather for a brainstorming session to come up with a dazzling new way of marketing your company's latest product.

What to do: Avoid traditional brainstorming dead ends by expanding your perspective. Meetings like these are a perfect opportunity to look at old problems from a new angle through techniques like free association, word games and simply listening to others. Come in with a spirit of openness and support the ideas of others in an encouraging, non-critical way.

5- "Be part of the solution, and not the problem"
Setting: You and your colleagues are standing around openly criticizing your company's new advertising campaign.

What to do: Instead of criticizing, offer solutions. Think of how the situation could be improved and come up with alternate strategies. Then, discuss potential new strategies with your colleagues and weigh the pros and the cons of your ideas. Once your plans have been refined, put them down on paper and take them to management. They might not entirely agree with your solution, but they'll certainly appreciate your commitment and desire to help the company grow.

6- "Burn the midnight oil"
Setting: You've been asked to put in some overtime to help push a product through its final stages.

What to do: Be a good sport and pitch in. Companies appreciate employees who are willing to go the extra mile to ensure a quality product. Come in earlier if you prefer morning hours or stay late if you're a night owl. Just beware of companies that demand extra effort without extra benefits. Your availability should be rewarded.

7- "It's crunch time"
Setting: It's mere days before your next product launch and numerous nagging details still need to be hammered down.

What to do: Do your best to contribute by completing all of your tasks. If your tasks are finished, help your colleagues with their assignments as well. At times like these, it's crucial that everyone pitches in regardless of position or rank. It's also crucial that you try to remain stress free as deadlines get closer and closer. Try to relax by practicing simple breathing exercises, address problems one at a time, and if possible, maintain a regular exercise regime outside of work.

8- "Mission critical"
Setting: Your supervisor calls you in to remind you of the importance of one of your tasks.

What to do: Duly note his concern and discuss guidelines and expectations. Once you're certain you have the resources you need, work on prioritizing your schedule to give the task the proper attention it deserves.

9- "Top level"
Setting: Your company has gotten into a jam because you've failed to look at the big picture.

What to do: Over time, it's only natural to get bogged down in day-to-day operations. However, no company has ever achieved mass success without keeping an eye on the market and its mission statement. Help your company make a splash by taking a little time every day to distance yourself from nitty-gritty details so you can focus on your end goal.

10- "Stop sticking to the sidelines"
Setting: Your younger, more assertive colleagues are snatching up bonus assignments while you sit idly by.

What to do: Get in the game! Becoming active is the only way to ensure you won't be left in the dust when the next round of promotions are handed out. By entering the fray, you may risk failure, but by sitting on your hands, you guarantee you'll be fired.

11- "Put your game face on"
Setting: Your supervisor admonishes you for your lackadaisical approach after catching you daydreaming.

What to do: Become more focused during your working hours. Make sure your body and mind are both on company time by ensuring you're actively engaged in the work you've been assigned. Above all else, don't let boredom and a lack of initiative affect your work.

and...action!

Clichés are as much a part of office culture as water coolers and supply closets. They're bandied about in meetings and memos, and casually slipped into all forms of conversation. They're also exceptionally empty. Like it or not, talk is cheap and clichés are the most worthless form of currency available. Help advance your career today by saying au revoir to clichés and adopting a life of action instead.