Self-Awareness

5 Cliches to Ban

Choose clarity instead of dishonesty

Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash

You hear them nonstop — tired clichés disguised as wisdom offering nothing but noise. Overused, self-serving, and misleading, they refuse to die. Let’s look at five of the worst and the truth behind them.

Five clichés to ban

After decades in business, I’m relieved to be retired and less exposed to such nonsense. Yet, no one can escape them entirely. These overused phrases have been beaten into the ground, stripped of meaning, and yet they persist.

Yes, I’m talking about clichés! Let’s “think outside the box” and “take a deep dive” to “find some low-hanging fruit” before we “circle back” to “rightsize” this conversation.

If you are wondering about the above photo, it is one of the most clichéd images ever! It is used so often and is so annoying I couldn’t resist!

Now, let’s expose five obnoxious, overused, and misused business phrases that irritate or confuse many. In their place should be clear, direct, and honest communication. Each of the following can easily be replaced by simply stating what is actually needed or intended.

Rightsize

We all know what this really means: downsizing. It’s a dressed-up way of saying people are being fired, laid off, or otherwise eliminated. The word “right” in “rightsizing” implies that the change is good, but for those affected, it simply means losing their jobs.

Oxford Languages defines the term as: “to reduce the size of (a company or organization) by eliminating staff positions, specifically when business conditions necessitate such a reduction.” Merriam-Webster traces the term back to 1989.

While used in many cases to soften the blow, it only obscures reality. In other words, it’s a way to lie. Instead of hiding behind jargon, why not be upfront? If you’re letting people go, say why. The word “layoff” may sound gentler, but it, too, obscures the truth. Honest communication builds trust, while misleading terms like “rightsizing” erode it.

“The company calls it ‘downsizing’ or ‘rightsizing.’ My own informal “Name the Layoff” contest produced some other euphemisms: Retroactive…