DorobekInsider: What are the most annoying buzz words?

DorobekInsider: What are the most annoying buzz words?

We all remember synergy — pulling desperate organizations together so that the sum was more then then added parts… and we all remember how well that worked.

What is the synergy of 2009? Accountemps conducted a survey of executives… and among the items on their list…

Executives were asked, “What is the most annoying or overused phrase or buzzword in the workplace today?” Their responses included:

• Leverage: As in, “We intend to leverage our investment in IT infrastructure across multiple business units to drive profits.”
• Reach out: As in, “Remember to reach out to customers impacted by the change.”
• It is what it is: As in, “The server is down today, and clients are irate. It is what it is.”
• Viral: As in, “Our video has gone viral.”
• Game changer: As in, “Transitioning from products to solutions was a game changer for our company.”
• Disconnect: As in, “There is a disconnect between what the consumer wants and what the product provides.”
• Value-add: As in, “We have to evaluate the value-add of this activity before we spend more on it.”
• Circle back: As in, “I’m heading out of the office now, but I will circle back with you later.”
• Socialize: As in, “We need to socialize this concept with our key stakeholders.”
• Interface: As in, “My job requires me to interface with all levels of the organization.”
• Cutting edge: As in, “Our cutting-edge technology gives us a competitive advantage.”

Accountemps conducted a similar survey in 2004. The following “Hall-of-Fame” buzzwords were cited in both surveys:

• At the end of the day
• Synergy
• Solution
• Think outside the box
• On the same page
• Customer-centric

Some phrases cited in the most recent survey suggest executives are suffering from recession fatigue, including:

• Recession
• Depression
• Economy
• Do more with less
• Restructuring
• Downsizing
• Gloom and doom
• Pay freeze
• Bailout
• Overworked

So what are the government buzzwords out there these days — and I’d be the first to acknowledge that one of them is “government 2.0″ — or, to be honest, virtual anything 2.0.

But I’d love to hear your over-hyped buzz words.