Let’s take it to the next level
Many a true word is spoken in jest….
One of the more irritating tendencies of “business speak” (“business speech” would be far too grammatically correct) is the tendency for such language to “sneak” into general conversation. It is, of course, one thing to be exposed to business speak for 8-12 hours/day for as many days as you work, and quite another to hear it at social gatherings (you DO attend social gatherings, right?) and even on TV sitcoms. Business speak has become the de facto “lowest common denominator” 
for speech worldwide, through the pervasiveness (invasiveness?) of multinational corporations.
Masters of concise, realistic language, ranging from George Carlin (“business ethics”) to Scott Adams (often through “Asok the Intern” – I remember his definition for “returning to our core competencies”), have approached the phenomenon of business speak. Although I certainly do not class myself with these masters, it may take a lot of us working together to “turn the tide.”
Some managers are fond (see definition #1) of the (odious) expression, “Let’s take it to the next level!” What does this expression really mean?
Assuming that the practitioners of business speak mean the (unstated ) next HIGHER level, the expression often means, “Let’s work even longer and harder for FREE!” (If they mean the next LOWER level, the expression probably relates to your upcoming socioeconomic class.)
(Of course, there ARE no “levels.”)
I once worked for a Silicon Valley company in a job that, after commuting, allowed me 3 hours/day at home in which I was awake (often after skipping lunch [I don’t eat breakfast] during the day). That company wanted me to be working online during those 3 hours. I also worked for two companies at jobs which required “on-call” shifts. During these shifts, I slept with a pager (don’t ask me where I put it, and yes, I had a cell phone, TOO). I had a lot of business colleagues who endured similar jobs, and some who still do! (See Ernie Zelinski’s comments about the “tunnel with no cheese.”) There was simply no time left in the day for taking the job to any level, other than consuming LESS of my life.
So, the next time we catch ourselves babbling on about, or about to blurt out, some meaningless, stupid, business-speak phrase designed to motivate the unthinking, let’s put our hands over our mouths! For the financially motivated (I’m thinking of you Sales folks), perhaps you can FINE each other, at social gatherings or other places where business speak is inappropriate!
I know that this action will be only a small, good start (like “300 lawyers…”), but if we even hope to keep some aspect of our lives separate from our work, (as with the “journey of 10,000 li…”) it is a start that must be made.
-Bill at Cheshire Cat Photo™
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