|
Management speak |
What it means |
Example of how I heard it used |
|
Action a closure |
(v) To complete something |
Jo, can you action a closure on the minutes from
the last meeting? |
|
Heads up |
(n) Warning |
Hi John. This is just a heads up for tomorrow’s
town hall…. |
|
Push back |
(v) To say no |
If they ask for the global report, we’ll have to
push back until the BAU is complete. |
|
Backfill |
I have no idea |
We need to flag up the backfill issue. |
|
Worlds |
(n) Team or division |
This is the same in Gary and Carl’s global
worlds. |
|
In the loop |
(v) To be in the know |
Just keep me in the loop |
|
Core competencies |
I’m really not sure |
We need to list our core competencies for the
review of Dan’s world in tomorrow’s town hall. |
|
Get this elephant to dance |
(v) To get a big organisation to work together. |
Let’s get this elephant to dance |
|
Our people |
(n) The slaves in the slammer |
Bonuses are down on last year, but rest assured,
our people are our biggest asset. |
|
Close of play tomorrow |
(n) Before you leave tomorrow |
Can you get the presentation to me before close
of play tomorrow? |
|
Downstream |
I’m not sure how to describe it. |
If we launch the AsiaPac tool, the effects
downstream with be measured in the regional MIS |
|
BAU |
(adj) Describes whether something is what you do
everyday. Or not. |
Is that BAU? No it’s a bolt on until close of
play tomorrow. |
|
Buyer of that |
(n) Interested in that |
We need to get the bolt on backfill synchronous
with our core competencies because Dave is a buyer of that. |
|
Appetite |
(n) Need |
There’s no appetite for downstream integration of
the mobility workshop. |
|
Add to before decommissioning |
I don’t know |
The tactical rec. is just an add to before
decommissioning the global tool. |
|
A ten o’clock |
(n) A meeting |
I can’t, I’ve got a ten o’ clock. |
|
Bolt on |
(n) An extra to something |
The government bonds tool is a bolt on to the
corporates. |
|
Shoehorn |
(v) To make something fit into something else |
We can shoehorn derivatives into in equity
composite deals. |
|
Flag up |
(v) To bring attention to |
Get Sue to flag up the mobility workshop in the
ten o’ clock. |
|
Health check |
(n) A review |
Let’s do the new process for this month, and then
we’ll have a health check. |
|
Town hall |
(n) A meeting |
Are you going to the town hall? No, I’m going to
the basement |
|
Mobility |
(n) Ability to move jobs. |
The pay’s not as good, but there’s great
mobility. |
|
Mobility workshops |
(n) Meeting about mobility (usually held in the
coffee shop) |
Should I meet you in Café Nero for the mobility
workshop? |
|
Reach out |
(v) I'm not entirely sure but, I think it means
to call or to phone. (e.g. Can you reach out to John = can you
call John) |
This is from Martyn: I've just been asked to
"reach out to Paul" Well I tried but he's about a 100 miles
away in Bournemouth - what a load of tosh !! |
|
Think outside the box |
(v) Usually what someone says to you when they
don't like your first idea |
Mmmm, yes Scott, that's a good idea, but let's
just think outside the box for a minute.... |
|
Quick win |
(n) Possibly one of the most redundant phrases
ever. Never really needs to be used. I mean either its a good
idea or it isn't. |
"...there are some quick wins to be had out of
this..." |
|
Sing from the same hymn sheet |
(v) To agree with/to understand something in the
same way as the most senior person in the team. You can only
ever sing from the Big Cheese's hymn sheet. Anything lower than
a Vice President doesn't even have a hymn sheet. You're still
singing Christmas carols from memory, buddy... |
Dave needs to send out a heads up so that our
people are singing from the same hymn sheet |
|
Air traffic control |
(n) Normally the Big Cheese likely to stop your
idea. |
I know you want a water fountain on the second
floor, but there are only 70 people who will use it and it's not
client-facing, so you're unlikely to get it past air traffic
control... |
|
Throwing your arms around/chuck my hat in |
(phrase) What you say in a meeting when your
manager is present. This is so that when the time comes to do
your objectives (usually bonus/promotion time) you can tick the
box that says: Willing to get involved |
Manager (Bill): We need a team to look at our
communication strategy...
Young Gun 1:
I'd really like to throw my arms around that one, Bill.
Young Gun 2:
Well, the re-streamlining project's coming to an end, so I can
chuck my hat in too… |
|
To be actively onboard |
(v) To care |
We need to get senior management actively onboard
pretty soon if we want to use this going forward. |
|
Face time |
(n) A meeting |
Chuck if you have a window in your diary over the
next few days I'd appreciate some face time. |
|
On my radar |
(n) I'm aware of that |
Sure, Ivan, the KPI report is on my radar. |
|
Potentially |
(adj) Another word that is redundant. Basically
it means the user is trying to sound more professional. |
Well, Steve, this could potentially go either
way. |
|
The below |
(adj) Redundant. Means "this". |
Dear Jane, please read the below list of core
competencies for use in your face time with Vee when we shoehorn
the integration workshop into the HR staff development program.
(Spelt "program" because people who know that it's "programme"
are unlikely to spout such drivel.) |
