It can be frustrating to hear clichés when you are struggling with a problem at work. You are struggling to meet deadlines, the boss has left a monkey on your back to supervise and coordinate with other team members, that monkey is checking on you every minute, your cell is ringing non-stop and you are trying to finish a report. Amidst this mountain of work, a colleague tries to pacify you with a slamming cliché like “This too shall pass”. It is all you can do to remain non-violent, and ignore the high moral words.
Here are 7 more platitudes that you wish people would stop using at work.
There’s no I in the TEAM
No! There is a me in the team, and the sloppy work of other members is costing the team its targets. While team work is important, it is also necessary for all members to be players. It can get irritating when one hides his laziness under the efforts of others. There is also an I when someone takes credit for your work.
It was meant to be
Then why did you make extra efforts to get a client or finish a presentation on time. This lazy excuse for every failure is unacceptable for success at work. Cyrus Mistry would not have been pacified with this when he was ousted from Tata.
Time heals all wounds
You can retort with time wasted never comes back. Time does not heal the wound of a missed promotion or a great business opportunity. Sure another opportunity will come along, but in the fast-paced professional world, one mistake has exponential repercussions.
Winners never quit
Yes, they do. Colonel Sanders quit many jobs before becoming the head of KFC. When you know you are meant for a better purpose, say no and escape before you are caught in the quagmire of failure.
Think outside the box
You don’t want to be thinking too much outside the box. Creativity for the sake of it, without efficient innovation can cost a company heavily. You can keep doing the same thing and make it perfect, instead of trying something different but risky.
Give your 120 percent
One does not have more than 100 percent, and that is why it is called 100 percent. Saying anything more than that just puts overwhelming demand on the person, and demotivated them to achieve the real target.
That’s just my personal opinion
Then don’t give it. In a professional setting, giving personal opinions is irrelevant and unnecessary. It just shows a know-it-all attitude, and belittles the work and thinking of the other person.
These are some platitudes that we wish people would avoid at work. Clichés are just useless veneer, that do not solve any problems.
