The branches of the federal government have, since the end of World War II, abetted and contributed directly to the debasement of standards of conduct — legal, civil, and ethical. The results are evident everywhere, including the “hard-headed” world of business. Here is a brief guide to business-speak; each word or phrase is followed by yesteryear’s fitting word or phrase:
-abled, -challenged…crippled (before handicapped)
analysis…guesswork
associate…employee
business-process or re-engineering consultant…hatchet man
(to) communicate, (to) share…(to) tell
concern (of employee)…gripe
(to) counsel…(to) warn
empowerment…responsibility
(to) give developmental feedback…(to) appraise; as in:
- walks on water…only Jesus could
- superior…good
- excellent…fair
- good…poor
- fair…one more chance
- poor…out the door
expectations…standards
feedback (sometimes “input”)…criticism
holiday party…Christmas party
Human Resources…Personnel
input (alternate meaning)…idea
networking…glad-handing; as in:
- “Let’s do lunch (not!).”…”(Not) good to meet you.”
management guru…b___ s___ artist
MBWA (management by walking around)…goofing off
mentoring…OJT (on-the-job training)
organizational dynamics…back-biting, back-stabbing
output…work
paradigm…theory
position…job; as in:
- assistant…clerk (also “gofer” and “flunky”)
- administrative assistant…senior clerk
- executive assistant…secretary
- team leader…supervisor
- manager…boss
- executive…manager
- chief operating officer…general manager
- chief executive officer…president
- chairman…Mao
stakeholder…employee or shareholder (but not “customer” or “public-at-large”)
teaming area…conference room, coffee bar, vacant office
teaming, teamwork…cooperation
terminated…fired; as in:
- de-selected…fired
- down-sized…fired
- out-placed…fired
- laid-off…fired (unless you worked in a union shop)
work space, work station…office, desk, counter
Politics and Prosperity 