Use politest fake smile to bear with bosses

Bangalore: Even the most boring office space has sources of fun. One just needs to know what to look for. One such source can be 'office lingo'. These are phrases that bosses insist on overusing. As stupid and irritating as they are, they can lighten up your day as well.

According to HR expert Abhishek Bohra, there are simpler ways of saying the same things. "But bosses prefer to sound authoritative without realising that they simply sound corny. The only thing you can do is use your politest fake smile and bear with it," says Bohra.


We decode the 12 most common ones for you:

Give it your 110 percent
Meaning: Make an extra effort towards work.

Think out of the box
Meaning: Get more creative and innovative.

Do you have the bandwidth for?
Meaning: Can you fit more into your schedule?

I have you in my radar
Meaning: I'm tracking what you are doing.

Have 360 degree thinking
Meaning: Make sure you take all contingencies into account.

Don't let the grass grow on this one
Meaning: I need this done as soon as possible, preferably yesterday!

Let's brain storm
Meaning: Let's put our heads together for better ideas (usually ends up being a useless meeting!).

Take it to XYZ level of granularity
Meaning: Pay attention to the details.

Let's touch base on XYZ
Meaning: Let's discuss something. This usually means you are in trouble.

Let's knife-and-fork it
Meaning: A nice way of saying your work was crude and needs refinement.

You need to push the envelope
Meaning: Give your work more, more and more.

I can see where you are coming from
Meaning: I get your point. The only reason this is annoying is that it's always followed by a 'but'!

Office speak can be annoying when it's directed at you, but it also makes for great dinner table conversation. Pick your favourite phrases and start a conversation about them the next time you have a bunch of friends over. They will come up with even better ones of their own!