Peer to Peer Magazine

86 PEER TO PEER: THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF ILTA | SPRING 2016 Tips on How To Improve Your Writing THE WORD ON WORDS DEAR ABBY & BABBY: I work in HR for a large law firm. A guy in our office has been here for a year and has spoken not one original word since he arrived. He strings corporate clichés together like a pop-bead necklace. He writes to everyone that his interface with them has been impactful. One time, he introduced me as the guy who offices next to him. Another time, he actually said, "They drank the Kool-Aid. Now we need to drill down and get our ducks in a row." My jaw has come unhinged, and I've been grinding my teeth so much they're now half as long as they used to be. Please help, before I lose the few snaggles I have le. – DENTALLY CHALLENGED DEAR DENTALLY: Like you, we have no patience with Corporatese. Have you ever wondered why the guy who says open the kimono is always the guy you would never want to see in a kimono, especially an open one? Yes, we know he's using it to make a point, but he can make the point without exposing himself. Every time he writes or speaks this stuff, the real message is, "I have not one creative thought in my head." That's our point. If we ever spoke or wrote unimaginative pablum like this, our mother would wash our mouths out with Strunk & White. If she met your guy, she would throw him under a real bus. No metaphor there. We know a lot of smart people in the business world, and they have the same reaction our mother does when she sees sawdust in the sausage: » Think outside the box – he doesn't » If at all possible – I guess if it's not possible, don't worry about it » Let's face facts – nawww » By way of background – one of the many routes from Boston to Newport » Let me explain what I mean – why didn't you do that the first time? Jettison the Jargon by Gary Kinder intro by Randi Mayes We're in the midst of a crazy election year in the U.S., and there's no shortage of political mumbo-jumbo attacking our ears. That "non-speak" is not confined to the candidates' debate stages and ads, it's common in our law firms. You're likely guilty of an occasional reliance on trite phrases; it's often easier than finding the real vocabulary to make your point. Gary Kinder is here to help. He has rolled up his sleeves and sharpened his pencil; he's not pulling any punches or burying the lead. Enjoy his humor-filled column, and take the pledge to jettison your jargon today.

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