Principles in action - Cut the crap!

I am rather impressed as I'm working away in an open office environment, when I hear colleagues cite our company principles. And I should add they are cited sincerely, are being used to think about behaviour -- not being used  ironically.

I was reminded though of perhaps the most candid and abrupt corporate principle ever -- Cut the Crap.

In 2002 the BBC CEO made a speech and a soccer style card:

I would also ask that people in every team in the BBC – be it at Watchdog, Radio Leicester or outside broadcasts – discuss how we make this place better, how we make it exciting, how do we ensure that the cynics and moaners in the organisation – and they're there in all big organisations – are marginalized. In short how do we cut the crap and make it happen?

To help me I've had a yellow card printed which says on it "cut the crap and make it happen" which I plan to bring out at every meeting when someone is trying to stop a good idea rather than make it happen. We'll send one to anyone who wants one.

The BBC is a pretty extraordinary and innovative media organisation. I guess it worked. 

Read more: 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/speeches/stories/dyke_makingithappen.shtml

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/feb/08/broadcasting.bbc

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/feb/07/broadcasting.bbc

image from https://newsmutt.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/cut-the-crap/


Buzzwords are a load of bull

OK so some of use management speak and some of us cringe when we hear it. I'm a little scared that I am becoming immune to it. Turns out using those business buzzword phrases may impair your message, as reported in the SMH today.

A 2010 study conducted at New York and Basel Universities observed the effect linguistic influences had on judgments of truth. The research indicated that when a statement was expressed in concrete language, it rated as being more truthful and authentic than when it is was expressed in abstract language.

The study found that subtle linguistic modifications alone were sufficient to affect truth judgment.

So in layman's terms: speak normal English and people will believe you more than when you use ridiculous management speak.

Read the rest of the article over at smh.com.au for a list of management speak doozies and some pretty entertaining readers' comments.