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Overused office buzzwords: the list grows

I recently wrote an article about the most annoying and overused terms in the workplace, and readers have been commenting with new words to add to the list.

The basis for the article was a survey by Accountemps, in which 150 senior executives identified the problem words and phrases (e.g. “leverage,” “circle back”). But here’s 10 more they missed, according to Yahoo! HotJobs readers:

• Stakeholder
• Heads up
• Mission critical
• Bandwidth
• Touch base
• In the loop
• Low-hanging fruit
• Moving forward
• At the end of the day
• On the same page

The disdain for so many of the buzzwords runs deep, and I’m surprised by the large number of offending terms. My favorite comment: “How is it that “touch base” didn’t make the cut? That’s an insipid office phrase that’s been going around for years.” (Great word — “insipid”!)

The sad thing is that I use so many of these phrases, particularly in work settings. (Except “low-hanging fruit,” which has always distracted me. Maybe  because it’s so descriptive?) And now I get self-conscious every time I use one of these, so I’m updating my vocabulary when possible.

But it’s important to remember the perspective that Liz Bywater provided while I was researching the article:

“There’s nothing inherently wrong with having a set of terms, a common lexicon, by which people in a given field or industry can easily communicate. This is essentially what business buzzwords are — a set of terms that are readily understood in the corporate environment. When used properly and in context, these buzzwords serve as a sort of linguistic shorthand. When overused or misused, however, buzzwords can overshadow or even distort the overall communication. Using too many buzzwords can lessen an individual’s credibility as an independent, intelligent, creative thinker. At worst, it can make him look like a wishy-washy wannabe.”

I can’t resist: At the end of the day, it is what it is. But keeping everyone on the same page is always a value-add.

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Labor-market indicator signals improvement

On the heels of last week’s surprising government report of a slight dip in the unemployment rate, SHRM offers some hopeful news about the outlook for hiring.

More companies in the manufacturing and service sectors are hiring in August compared with the first few months of 2009, according to the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) Leading Indicators of National Employment (LINE) survey for August 2009. Highlights are below, and to access the full report, please go to SHRM LINE August 2009.

• Hiring expectations in August lag those from a year ago. Though hiring is down in August compared with the same time in 2008, more companies in both the manufacturing and service sectors will add jobs rather than conduct layoffs for the second month in row.
• There is some evidence that the job market is gradually improving. August marks the highest level of hiring in the manufacturing sector since October 2008. In the service sector in August, the hiring rate will surpass the layoff rate for the fourth consecutive month.
• Wages and benefits packages for new workers continue to decline. New-hire compensation rose at the slowest rate in July in five years in both the manufacturing and service sectors.

While it is still very tough in the job market right now, this small signal is worth paying attention to. In the next month or so I hope to see similar small signals to begin to ease the harshness facing so many jobless people.

HR pros have hope for 3Q job market

Human resource professionals are showing increased faith in the job market for the third quarter of 2009, although many are still having difficulty pinpointing their hiring plans, according to the Labor Market Outlook (LMO) survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Highlights of the full online report are below:

• A total of 37% of respondents have some level of concern for the U.S. job market in the third quarter: 33% are somewhat pessimistic about job growth and anticipate job losses, and another 4% are very pessimistic and anticipate job cuts during the quarter. This marks a major reversal from the LMO’s second quarter survey, when a combined 70% of respondents expressed some level of pessimism and predicted deeper cuts in the U.S. job market.
• A total of 69% of respondents will either eliminate jobs or keep their payrolls flat in the third quarter of 2009 (56% will maintain current staffing levels, 13% will cut jobs). Among employer categories, 28% of large companies (those with 500 or more employees) will conduct layoffs in the third quarter.
• A total of 81% of respondents either cut jobs or kept payrolls flat in the second quarter of 2009 (43% maintained staffing levels, 38% conducted layoffs). This marks a slight improvement in hiring activity from the first quarter of 2009, when a combined 84% of respondents either cut jobs or kept payrolls flat (45% maintained staffing levels, 39% decreased staff).

Perception matters, so consider this SHRM research a sliver of good news.

Key to job security: good relationships

I was surprised to see in a recent survey that workers’ relationships with their bosses and fellow employees have apparently not been hurt by the recession. In fact, those relationships may have improved during the downturn.

The survey, from financial staffing firm Accountemps, showed that 87% of professionals said they have a good rapport with their supervisors, and 95% said they get along well with coworkers. Those figures are roughly the same as when the same survey was conducted in 2005, when the economy was better.

Some stronger ties

However, the number of folks this year who described their ties with the boss as “very good” was up 4% over 2005, and those who had “very good” relationships with coworkers was up 7% over 2005.

Is the recession driving people to treat others better in the workplace?

“People make work relationships a priority in good times and bad,” says Katherine Spencer Lee, a district president with Robert Half International, the parent of Accountemps.

“In the current economy, we see people pulling together, empathizing with the work and personal challenges their colleagues are facing and doing what they can to help,” she adds. “There also is a ‘we’re in this together’ mentality among many of those trying to accomplish more with leaner teams and fewer supporting resources.”

Increasing your value

Good relationships in the workplace also boost job security, especially now as managers constantly assess where to make possible cuts. Experts offer these suggestions for maintaining and improving relationships at work:

• Take on challenges outside your job description.
• Adjust your work habits and communication style to better mirror those of your boss.
• Maintain your poise during challenging times.

For additional tips, see the article “Workplace Relationships Stay Strong in Economic Downturn.”

Hunting for hopeful job-market signs

Everyone is hungry for some good economic news these days. Today’s unemployment report from the government (9.4% for May) didn’t really fit the bill. However, the loss of 345K jobs that month is the lowest job loss since September. Let’s hope the glimmer becomes a trend.

There was also an encouraging press release today about a three-month rise in employee confidence. The Spherion Employee Confidence Index, which measures workers’ confidence in their personal employment situation and optimism in the economic environment, rose again in May. Fewer workers believe the economy is getting weaker and more workers are optimistic in their ability to find a new job, according to a Spherion press release.

Some highlights:

* Thirty-eight percent of workers believe the economy is getting weaker compared to 46 percent in the previous month. Twenty percent of workers believe the economy is getting stronger, an increase of four percentage points from April.

* Forty-two percent of U.S. adult workers reported confidence in their ability to find a new job, an increase of four percentage points from the previous month.

Of course, the emphasis is on a perception of things being “less bad.” Do we really know? In the absence of hard evidence, perceptions may be some comfort. Especially when it comes to finding a new job — confidence and a positive attitude are incredibly valuable!

5 ways to be indispensable

Everyone fortunate enough to still have a job right now would also like to feel more layoff-proof. Who wouldn’t?

Job insecurity is everywhere these days. To decrease that insecurity, check out the advice in “Keep Your Job: 5 Ways to Be Indispensable.”

One way is to make yourself more valuable by finding ways to increase profit. Says executive coach Peggy Klaus, “Be certain that the results you are focusing on and producing are the ones your boss and company value most. Translation: efficiency, cost-cutting and revenue.”

For more good tips, check out the Yahoo! HotJobs article.

Another job-keeping approach some people are trying: lying, cheating, and flirting. That’s according to an interesting new survey reported in TIME magazine. In fact, 28% of people said they would act immorally to keep their jobs.

Hmmm. What better recipe for stress in the workplace?

Love the job you have

The downward slide of the recession is not only changing the job market but also people’s attitudes about their jobs. You can summarize the shift in thinking  with the song title of the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young hit, “Love the One You’re With.”

You may not have your dream job; but if you’ve got a job right now, make the most of it.

Satisfaction Gets a Boost

Job satisfaction actually rose during the first year of the recession, according to an annual Yahoo! HotJobs survey. In December 38% of respondents said they were “very satisfied” with their jobs, compared with 28% in December 2007.

“For many people, the deepening recession and ever-present threat of losing their jobs means modified expectations and requirements for job satisfaction,” says Liz Bywater, executive coach and president of Bywater Consulting Group. “Most people are just glad to have a job. They may be working longer hours, they may be picking up additional responsibilities as other jobs are cut, or they may not care for their coworkers or boss. Still, they’re employed. In today’s environment, that’s a huge plus.”

Author and career coach Hallie Crawford agrees, saying that workers are looking on the bright side. “Because it’s not a good time to look for another job, they are forced to be more positive and optimistic about theirs in order to maintain their sanity in a way. If they’re unhappy there but have to stay, they might as well make the best of it.”

Making the Most of Your Lot

If you’re one of those workers and need help seeing the bright side, I recommend the article “How to Love the Job You Have,” by Roberta Chinsky Matuson.

Of her many great tips, I’ll cite this one:

“Right now it may feel like you have no choice but to keep this job forever. However, this won’t be the case if you play your cards right. Use this recession as an opportunity to increase your options. Enroll in evening or online classes, volunteer to work on projects with high visibility and gain the experience you will need to move to a new place in your career. Who knows, this may just be the spark you need to reignite the flames of love again in the job you have.”

Which reminds me of the wisdom in another song, “For Now,” from the musical Avenue Q. The show’s closing song reminds us: “Everything thing in life is only for now.” From the mouths of puppets.

Better boss: Barack Obama

Adecco USA released an interesting survey today about how people feel about their bosses. (National Boss Day is Oct. 16.)

The survey asked employed working adults which presidential candidate would make a better boss, and 54% of respondents gave the nod to Sen. Barack Obama. McCain got 46%.

People value a variety of different qualities in a boss, so it’s hard to pinpoint what drove the result. But if I had been asked the question, I would have also favored Obama. He conveys authority but also seems approachable, and he strikes me as a better communicator than McCain. Good communication skills, in my opinion, are one of the biggest hallmarks of a good boss.

But maybe we’ll see something different from them in the debate later this week.

Read more about the survey at Adecco USA.

6 job-hunting advantages

Pessimism is on the rise among U.S. job-seekers. And with the continual rise in unemployment this year, you can’t really blame them.

According to a Yahoo! HotJobs survey last month, 53% of workers believed the job market would get worse in the next six months. In addition, 28% said they wanted to look for a new job but were too discouraged by the current economic climate.

But the sober perceptions may not jive with reality. There are many sectors experiencing robust hiring activity right now, and some good examples are showcased in the HotJobs 100 list right now.

I have also compiled from career experts six tips that help job-seekers get an edge in this market; see them at “6 Job-Hunting Advantages.”

Judge performance, not gender identity

Most Americans agree that transgender employees should be judged on performance, not on their gender identity, according to a new survey.

The research shows that 71% of heterosexual adults agree that job performance should be the measure of an employee, regardless of whether or not the employee is transgender.  The 2008 Out & Equal Workplace Survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive in conjunction with Out & Equal and Witeck-Combs Communications.

In other workplace news relating to the LGBT community, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation released its annual Corporate Equality Index, rating U.S. employers (using a 100-point scale) on their treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender employees.

I’m happy to report that my employer, Yahoo!, received a perfect 100 for the second year in a row.