Travel For Work: Most Annoying Business Terms

Ive been working the “business world” for over 10 years now.�� So I feel its only fitting that I vent a bit and compile my Official list of the Most Annoying Business Terms.�� These are the phrases and sayings that I hear so often that it makes me cringe and question my life choices.�� If you’ve been in the white-collar world for a while now, you’re sure to have heard them.�� If you’re just starting out, this should prepare you for whats to come.�� Beware!

Circle Back:��

Let’s start out simple.�� This one is so common that I almost forgot that it’s really business slang for “Follow Up”.�� In fact, it doesn’t really even annoy me that badly.

Definition:�� Follow Up
Used in a Sentence:�� “Let’s circle back with that in the morning.”

The Ask:��

If you would have asked me six years ago, I would have said that this one would never catch on.�� How wrong I would have been!�� I first noticed it in the consulting world.�� Now I hear it everywhere.

Definition:�� The Request
Used in a Sentence:�� “Ive got to admit, I’m lost…what’s the ask here?”

Bio-Break:

Yup, that’s right…Bio-Break.�� Its a fancy, non-offensive way to say “take a shit”

Definition:�� Use the Rest Room
Used in a Sentence:�� “Let’s take five minutes for a quick Bio-Break.”

Swirl:

Swirl is kind of a good one.�� This is what happens when issues go round and round and never get resolved.

Definition:�� When issues go back and forth amongst a group without any resolution
Used in a Sentence:�� “I’d like to just reach out to our vendor and get a straight answer so we can avoid all this swirl.”

Out of Pocket:

Not sure where this one came from, but it’s just a more annoying way of saying “Out of the Office”.

Definition:�� Out of the Office
Used in a Sentence:�� “I’ll be out of pocket most of next week, so maybe we can circle back on Friday.”

To Be Continued…

I’ll be updating this as a way to vent as I discover more insane phrases at work.�� Don’t you worry about that!