THE TROUBLE WITH BUZZWORDS

Buzzwords are the language of exclusion….Rather than opening up a theory for public consumption, they instead force someone to learn one person’s view of something like business management, education, etc.

I think a theory (unless of course it is scientific or technical and there is no other way to express this jargon) is best expressed in plain language for public consumption.

I recently thumbed through FLIRTING WITH DISASTER by Marc Gerstein that posits the theory that most “accidents” that occur be it the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown or Hurricane Katrina or Arthur Anderson’s Enron accounting fiasco were preventable.…The book’s sub-heading is “Why accidents are rarely accidental”.

It’s a well-researched book but Gerstein can’t resist the lure of the buzzword….He coins a term “Organizational Bystanders” which is someone who knows something is going wrong and will end in a catastrophe but does nothing….It’s a bit like in The Three Stooges where Moe is sure of his own infallibility, Curly is too crazy/stupid, but Larry knows what is going on….However, due to his own inherent meekness, refuses to act….Or it’s like those people who are unfortunately very common in Malaysia who see another person being robbed or mugged but refuse to get involved.

I’ve come up with my own buzzword which is “Non-Authoritative Responsibility”….This is when companies assign tasks to employees that will involve them in a situation where they are leading other employees that they don’t actually supervise either their equals or people whose position is above there’s on the corporate ladder….This is a terrible way to get anything done….It only creates a lot of hatred and resentment and also further makes the workplace a Darwinian shark pool where instead of only the fittest surviving, the biggest two-faced weasels are the ones who slither to success.

I feel a company with clearly delineated roles and responsibilities and corporate hierarchy is the most successful in the long run….In the short run, companies with very dynamic non-formal systems of hierarchy may generate new ideas but they will also have large employee turnover due to the corporate rat system and unpleasant working environment they create.

Anyway, Buzzwords are a cover for not having much substance or a protection mechanism if you do not have self-confidence in your own ideas….Speak clearly and “chunk” your information….People that use too many buzzwords look like pretentious idiots.