Deadly Words and Phrases 1

[CajunCenturion]

The 10 Deadliest Words and Phrases in Business



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Good Luck
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[kjv1611]

Interesting read, most definitely.

Sincerely yours,

kjv



--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[AnotherHiggins]

A lot of this struck me as one man's pet peeves rather than a list of must-avoid phrases.

[tt]_____
[blue]-John[/blue][/tt]
[tab][red]The plural of anecdote is not data[/red]

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[RegistrationMark]

Greed is good
Screw the budget!
It's not my job
You're call is important to us, please continue to hold
I'll do it tomorrow
Do you want to super-size that?
No, we're not bankrupt, we're reorganizing
You're fired
Market correction
Back-dated stock options

 

[columb]

I, personally, have no problem with

Please do not hesitate to contact me

and I have just used it in an e-mail. A colleague requested quite detailed technical information about a proposed new system. I tried, as ever, to tread that thin line between condescending and jargon but I really don't know whether I've pitched it right. As I may well have overestimated her technical knowledge (she's a Project Manager) I concluded:-

If you need any more clarification don't hesitate in getting back to me.

As far as I'm concerned that's manners, not cliché.

Ceci n'est pas une signature
Columb Healy

 

[gbaughma]

I tend to agree with anotherhiggins on this one... sounds like the guy's personal beef.

"Please don't hesitate to contact me..." is certainly different than his suggestion of "Please call me."

When I see "Please call me", I think that there is something that has been omitted for some reason, and that I *need* to contact that person by phone.

In my trainings, the last slide usually includes my extension, with me saying "Please don't hesitate to call if you are having issus", etc.... making a statement that calling me is welcomed, but their choice.

As I have said in the past, the focus should be on the customer; both internal and external. My external customers are the ones who pay the bills. My internal customers are every single person in my company who uses a computer (which means every person in my building.)

I keep a container of gumballs on the table in my office (I got that idea from Posner's "The Leadership Challenge", from a manager who had a popcorn machine in his office). This way, people can "just stop by" for a gumball, which gives me the opportunity to say "Oh, hey, glad you stopped by. How's that new mouse working for you?" etc.

Sure... gumballs cost me out of my own pocket ($24 to $38 a case)... and last about 2 months... *BUT* for the amount of additional customer contact I get, and the general feel of "my door is always open", it's certainly worth it.



Just my 2¢
"Life gets mighty precious when there's less of it to waste." -Bonnie Raitt "Nick of Time"
--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[Gooser]

Greg,

Love the gumball idea. It reminds me of my section chief at Langley. He had an M&M dispenser on his desk and an open-door policy. (Unless the door was closed, that meant come back later) He was among my best supervisors ever.

v/r
Gooser

 

[Golom]

Re: ... please don't hesitate to call ...

The message I'm trying to get across is not about hesitation but rather something like

If you have questions or need more information then please call me.

It's not as though I won't answer the phone if I think that you might have hesitated.

 

[pinkgecko]

I always made fun of a coworker who had "Please do not hestitate to call me if you have any questions" as his signature on emails. I'm not totally opposed to it, but it's only appropriate in certain situations. When you send an email asking a question but your signature says not to hesitate to contact you if they have any questions, it's pretty ridiculous.

 

[NorthNone]

You're call is important to us, "
You're = You are
S/B
"Your call is important to us,"

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." - Helen Keller

 

[donbott]

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call someone else. You already have all the answers I know.

DonBott

Author
10 Years Later: John Bobbit remembered

 

[r937]

please don't hesitate to call me, because i can tell if there is any elapsed time between the moment you realized you needed further information and when you called

r937.com | rudy.ca

 

[Gooser]

Please do hesitate in calling me. I am already overworked and underpaid, I don't feel like answering any of your ill-thought-out questions or humoring any of your silly little whims. If you think you need help, reboot and try again. If that doesn't work, try thinking for a change. If all other options are exhausted and you decide that you really need my help, think about it, prepare a cohesive question, then call me.

v/r
Gooser

 

[Thadeus]

CC, because you are always good at derivations, etymologies, etc., I have a question sparked by the first entry... (Others may obviously answer. I just thought of CC first. Maybe because he opened the thread)

Why is the phrase, "Yours Truly"? Or as I used to see all the time, "Yours in Christ"? The point of the question: What does "Yours" indicate in this closing?

~Thadeus

 

[CajunCenturion]

==> What does "Yours" indicate in this closing?
It is a token of respect.

It's really a shortened, less formal, and less precise form of these similar subscriptions.

"With highest respect, I am yours to command"
"It is my honor to be at your service"
"Always honored in your presence"
"My love is yours forever"

I hope you get the idea.


--------------
Good Luck
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[Ladyazh]

Please note that I am forwarding this email to above referenced YOU.
Please be advise that you are respectfully fired.

Enclosed please find the reasons of such action
(under separate cover).



Please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kindly Yours.
Very truly management

 

[Thadeus]

Thank you CC for stretching out the 'Your' portion... that's exactly what I was looking for even if I didn't ask very clearly.

~Thadeus

 

[KenCunningham]

I quite often use 'Please get back to me if you need further help or clarification.'

I don't mind people who aren't what they seem. I just wish they'd make their mind up.

 

[MallardVHS]

er, Wasn't this discussed in a previous issue of MAI?

"If you have any questions, hum the tune to the Andy Griffith Show... etc..."

Don Knots

[green]Tis far easier to keep your duck in a row if you just have the one.[/green]

 

[Gooser]

...I'm not home right now,
and I'm never coming back,
I packed everything I own in a little paper sack...