Words are currency: words are never innocent
Thank you to Amy George for sharing these 14 buzz words to delete & suggested words to use instead.
Delete STRATEGIC
instead use
Tell story / give example
– lead
– created
– drove
– defined
– implemented
Delete SOLUTION
instead use
– products
– services
Delete HIGHLY
instead use
-Stephen King’s quote “I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs.”
Delete BEST OF
instead use
-still have things to learn
Delete EXPERT
instead use
– can always learn new.
– no one knows it all
– smart people know that
Delete UNIQUE
instead use
– What makes me different?
– What makes me great fit?
– Tell a story
Delete METRICS
instead use
-goals
– objectives
– results measured by X
Delete SYNERGY
instead use
Be specific about how you joined forces or teamed up to produce stellar results or even exceed goals or expectations
Delete RESULTS DRIVEN instead use
-As opposed to…not results-driven?
– NOT needed if can provide examples of accomplishments & how made an impact.
Delete LEADER
instead use
quantify what means in terms of department size / initiatives /influence
Delete GO-GETTER instead use
– avoid generalities
– want specific results
– example of how you achieved something, such as I increased sales by 40 percent’ ‘I won the top producer award seven times,’ or ‘I sold to most accounts by a margin of 2:1.
Delete LEVERAGE & UTILISE
Instead use
– Just say “use.” Maybe you used something in a smart way or way that your manager, company or competitors hadn’t thought of. Use specifics, more powerful than fluffy words like leverage and utilize.
Bonus: A 3-letter word saves you characters.
– smart people know that
BOTTOM LINE:
– Leave out the fluff and meaningless, overused cliches.
– Show examples.
– Share results.
– Tell story of your career in a way that makes you stand out.