Nuclear Phraseology in the Workplace

"What kind of a parent are you?"

"What did you do all day, anyway?"

"Well, I certainly wouldn't have done it THAT way."

Anyone in a relationship recognizes that the above phrases are nuclear explosives that will either generate an equally demonstrative counter-attack or long periods of silence.    Perhaps both.

Too often we forget that we have a relationship with our work teams and similar to the above, the bad turn of a phrase just blows it all up.   But wait. . .it gets even better because in a team environment the team talks. . .so now the offending phrase  is followed by the looming mushroom cloud of group discontent.

Some examples for your consideration:


Aren't you done with that project YET?    To which the addressee is tempted to answer, "I would be if you didn't hang over my shoulder like a possum."

"Are you sick?   You don't look well."  Maybe, just maybe the manager is genuinely concerned, but the listener interpretation is "I must look like living hell."     Don't make assumptions based on appearance - and really, really. . . if you must make assumptions, keep them to yourself.

"Good lord, it's just like managing children."    This is definitely a poor choice of words unless, of course, you are  working in a daycare.

"Good lord, its just like herding cats."     An equally poor choice of words, unless, of course, you work for the humane society.

"Why can't you people just do your jobs and let me do the thinking?"   Because, based on your choice of words, you're probably not very good at the latter.

"If I want it done right, I suppose I'll just have to do it myself."  Actually, a much more accurate phrase would be "If I want done exactly as I would do it, I'll just have to do it myself."

"I work harder than anybody else here and don't get any appreciation."   This is only effective if stated while on a cross.

"I just don't know what to do/I don't know what's going on."     And that's what we pay a manager for.

And, believe it or not. . .

"I don't like managing people."    'Nuff said.

Like it?  Share it!

Brent Frerichs is the author of "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders"  available  for e-readers, tablets, PCs and Apple products on Amazon Kindle.  If you are a member of Amazon Prime, you can now borrow this book for free!