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
