"So"
A recent report by Accountemps caught my attention as the survey revealed some of the most overused (and annoying) workplace words.
I have one that has reached the "annoying" level with me. It is the lovely two-letter word, "so."
The word is used to tie things together, really, not to start out a sentence. See this sentence? I walked down the street so I could buy some milk. It doesn't sound right to say, So, I walked down the street so I could buy some milk.
What do I mean by the word, so? I was recently conducting an interview for a story (and this has happened on several occasions with other people being interviewed, so it caught my attention after the fifth or sixth time). I asked the person being interviewed, "please tell me about the technology your company has developed."
"So, our product builds on the technology platform established in the mainframe environment..."
Okay.
"How many hospitals have deployed your technology?"
"So, we have about 100 hospitals deployed along the east coast..."
Pause.
"When you begin working with technology executives at a hospital, are there common issues that the hospitals are trying to address by adopting this new technology?"
"So, we have a number of hospitals who are trying to get their revenue cycle management under control."
Interesting.
You see the word "so" pops up at the beginning of every response.
According to The American Heritage College Dictionary (the one that's on my desk here at work), the word "so" has a number of meanings: In the condition or manner expressed or indicated; thus, Hold the brush so... To the amount or degree expressed or understood; to such an extent, She was so weary that she fell asleep...
Another definition for so is to be in good order, such as Everything must be exactly so.
But none of the definitions say that the word "so" should start out the sentence. "So, the uniqueness of our product is such that we are the top industry leader in information technology."
As for Accountemps' overused and annoying business words, executives were asked, "What is the most annoying or overused phrase or buzzword in the workplace today?"
Here are some of their responses:
- Leverage: As in, "We intend to leverage our investment in IT infrastructure across multiple business units to drive profits."
- Viral: As in, "Our video has gone viral."
- Game-changer: As in, "Transitioning from products to solutions was a game-changer for our company."
- Disconnect: As in, "There is a disconnect between what the consumer wants and what the product provides."
- Value-add: As in, "We have to evaluate the value-add of this activity before we spend more on it."
- Circle back: As in, "I'm heading out of the office now, but I will circle back with you later."
- Interface: As in, "My job requires me to interface with all levels of the organization."
- Cutting-edge: As in, "Our cutting-edge technology gives us a competitive advantage."
Accountemps conducted a similar survey in 2004. The following "Hall-of-Fame" buzzwords were cited in that survey and again this year:
- At the end of the day
- Synergy
- Solution (another of my personal favorites)
- Think outside the box
- On the same page
- Customer-centric (one that technology vendors love)
Maybe it's a new form of technology-speak; I'm not so sure. Drop me an e-mail with the business words that you think are overused or annoy you the most.