Clichés, or How to be Uncreative

This is an actual phone conversation I overheard:

“Hi, Bob, this is Lisa. I'm doing well. How are you? Oh, that's good. Well, I was calling to pick your brain about the company event coming up next month. We’re adding some teambuilding activities to promote the theme of ‘Working as One,’ and we’d like to have some staff members lead the activities. We’re looking for individuals who are outgoing, who embody the corporate initiatives, who get along with their peers. Off the top of your head, do you have any staff that fit the bill? Oh really? That would be great. Would you mind asking her if she would lend a hand with this? We’re getting close to the zero hour so we’d need a decision ASAP. You’re a lifesaver. And please keep it in the back of your mind, as we’ll need a few more people. Ha, ha. Right? Easier said than done. Thanks again, Bob. Talk with you soon.”

I kid you not. That was the conversation. Every office cliché was used in the span of two minutes. It made me sad, and even a little angry.

Clichés are leeches. They seem harmless but they suck the life out of your conversation. They show a lack of creativity, and really, you're smarter than that. Think of clichés as saying “um” over and over again between real thoughts. They add no value.

You cannot convince me otherwise. Please do not argue that clichés are useful because people automatically know what you mean. Baloney. There are a lot of concise, basic words between clichés and Roget’s that are common enough to use in every day language. So use them. The goal is not to recreate Shakespeare with every phrase - the goal is to get your message across in the simplest way.

It’s easy to confuse simple with easy. Let’s think about it in terms of shopping. The simple way is to focus on your favorite clothing stores, looking for your size and buying things in your price range. Done, and you look fabulous. The easy way is grabbing clothes off the nearest rack and immediately buying them without checking the size or choosing the color. This would lead to a wardrobe of stuff you would never wear because nothing fits well and does not present you at your best. Same goes for your words.

It will take time and will take some effort. The best thing you can do is read more. It's true – reading any kind of medium will introduce fresh phrasing and words. Also pay attention to word patterns used by interesting speakers. Most of all, remember that just because certain phrases are used in the workplace does not mean they are good. Corporate offices are ripe with jargon and limp communication – don't buy into it. The English language is so rich, holds so many possibilities, that you're really cheating yourself if you don't express your thoughts in your own words.