Corporate Jargons – No-brainers?!

by Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

“Think out of the box”

All 'new thinking' belongs to the boss
And your contribution, out he’d toss,
As it’s only the boss’s idea that “rocks”.
Hey, better don’t “think out of the box”!

“Go forward”

When boss asks you to “go forward”,
He is actually pulling you backward,
To show you your place
In his ‘corporate’ ways!

Of the boss if you think ahead,
He’d be insecure and see red!
So, if you really “go forward”,
Expect your career to go wayward!

“Touch base”

When boss says, “let’s touch base”
Be sure, that there is a strong case
Of your being called for a review
Of your work and some issue!

“Flag up!”

While boss wants a “flag up” on your work,
You’d wish a “flag up” on the tasks that irk!
Expect your ideas to be “flagged down”.
It’s always the boss’s ideas that you own!

“Paradigm shift”

When boss talks of a “Paradigm Shift”,
It’s not some new ideas he’s trying to gift.
Nor is he attempting to your spirits' lift.
It’s that, from his talk, sense you’ve to sift.

“Take it to the next level”

“Let’s take it to the next level”
Is a consultant’s favourite drivel
(Though he may not know it is so)
When the project nowhere seems to go!

There are many more such ones,
But I stop with these for the nonce.
To be a part of the office bandwagon,
Quickly mug up all the corporate jargon.

Read here:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Top-10-office-phrases-that-irk-workers-revealed/articleshow/19852129.cms? (Top Ten Office phrases that irk workers -Times of India – 03 May’13 )

And while at it, read this one too: http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2010/11/17/25-most-hated-business-terms/ (25 Most Hated Business Terms)

10-May-2013

More By : Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

Views: 1540 Comments: 5

Comments on this Poem

Thanks Renu Kala for your poetic and apt feedback. Thanks Seshuji. Rajat Sir, I aaccept whatever you say with great respect that I always have for you. And Kulbir, thanks for liking this one.

Padmaja Iyengar
21-May-2013 07:56 AM

Padmaja,

Your wit is flowing, and tongue-in-cheek humor!

Kulbir
20-May-2013 07:43 AM

20 May 2013
TO: Ms. Padmaja Iyengar
I switched over to my independent profession since 1986, quite late in my career, even sacrificing a bit monetarily compared to whatever I used earn in my service life hitherto while I had a boss over my head. But why I did that? I know the reasons now better after reading your poem. Thanks for enlightening me Ma'am.
Rajat Das Gupta

Rajat Das Gupta
20-May-2013 06:10 AM

You said, Padmaja ji.

Seshu Chamarty
20-May-2013 02:12 AM

You said it right maam,
Boss can trip you left and right
but only one thing to keep in mind
the Boss is Always Right....

Renu kala
20-May-2013 01:39 AM