I want to "reach out" and strangle someone

[McLovin]

Well, not really.

I always get a kick out of "corporate speak." I think it's interesting to see how it starts, spreads, etc.

"Reach out" is the latest rage in my area. No one ever says they are going to "call" someone, or "email" someone, or "contact" someone anymore. It's always "reach out" instead.

So, "Please call Bob and see if he knows the answer" becomes "Please reach out to Bob and see if he knows the answer."

Anyways, this one is interesting because I recall the first time I heard it used repeatedly, it was only 6 months or so ago. A client used it in a meeting a few times. I'd never heard it in my office before, but it was adopted hard by a few in my office. From my office, I could see it spread to our other clients over conference calls over the next few months. Right now, I'd say pretty much 100% of any call I'm on or conference I'm in that is over 5 minutes long will include that phrase numerous times.

Is this currently common throughout the country, or is a local thing?

Also, what corporate speak do you currently hear on a daily basis? Maybe as a social experiment I'll try and see if I can get a new one going here.

[vash]

seriously..i just called Bob (real name, well Bobby) to "touch bases" after he "reached out" to me.

[stomachmonkey]

Ping.

Hate that one.

I pinged him, I'll ping her.

[gassy]

When my client's boss is gone, she doesn't say "He's gone". She says, "He's out of pocket". Drives me nuts. 8 years I've been hearing that.

[VINMAN]

I remember our old company slogan, "Reach out and touch someone". It almost got me arrested.....

[wdfifteen]

I hardly ever call anyone. There are so many other ways of communicating that "Call" is really an anachronistic term anymore. The faddish "reach out" is just dumb. "Contact" says it all.

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by gassy

When my client's boss is gone, she doesn't say "He's gone". She says, "He's out of pocket". Drives me nuts. 8 years I've been hearing that.

One of my least favorites. Probably because it was heavily used by one of my least favorite people. Interesting blog with lots of comments about it:
hubbub: Office Talk: "Out of Pocket"

[craigster59]

We use radios in the movie biz. Now, whenever I'm having a conversation with someone or explaining something to them, they always respond with "copy that" even though we're not on set or around radios. I know it's petty, but it drives me nuts.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

We still "shoot" each other emails.

We also talk about trips to the shooting range. I'm surprised none of us have been fired for creating a "hostile work environment" yet.

[9dreizig]

I just say "I'll have my people call your people" ..

[on2wheels52]

"Mr. Smith's desk"


"Let me speak to the top drawer"

Jim

[ramonesfreak]

Reach out started being used in offices i have worked at about 5 years ago. At current office, I hear it about 5 times a day

I cant stand hearing it.

[Chocaholic]

Ditto. Have been hearing it daily for at least a few years. I pride myself on never saying it. Not so easy when it becomes a part of routine dialogue.

[VincentVega]

Gotta love corporate lingo bingo. A guy called me to 'reach out and sharpen his pencil' on a job he quoted for me. Made me chuckle.

[craigster59]

When I try and come up with new catch phrases I like to "think outside the box"...

[ramonesfreak]

I'll take a meeting with you if you take a meeting with Freddy.

[Ronbo]

The federal government is full of these idiotic phrases. The one I hated most is the use of the term "vice" for "versus".

[Zeke]

I thing FU still works.

[Rick Lee]

How about switching nouns and verbs?

We should position it like this.

You should leverage your relationship.

Who can green light this?

Our messaging should be this.

And the one word I will never say aloud or write to a client or co-worker as long as I live is "solution."

[L8Brakr]

This discussion should be "Taken Off-Line", we need to get back to the original agenda........