Result-oriented

Targeting this word is long overdue, as it has been haunting all sorts of e-mails and papers for years - yes, you read that right, the solid medium-sized company is now also writing a "paper" in Eschweiler-Dürwiß for the discussion proposal.

Back to the inflationary "results-oriented".

If a project is to be advertised, an order landed, or a boring task to be sung about, then an adjective is needed that gives the wasteland a shine.

We call it result-oriented.

That feigns dynamism, focus (yuck, another smug boast) and something vaguely great.

Let's think in terms of results.

Yes, yes, of course something clever should come out of it afterwards, of course we work hard and make an effort so that the result is good.

That's the core of gainful employment and not worth mentioning.

Anything else would be time-consuming chatter.

"What matters is what comes out at the end," said a Chancellor who younger generations only know from history books.

Drastic, but to the point.

Even if it brings up images of digestive processes.

URSULA KALS

life hack

Mastering the pitfalls and tasks of everyday life with simple or unusual means - that's what everyone strives for.

You can get closer to this goal if you put on diving goggles when chopping onions.

If your eyes don't overflow with tears, cuts on your fingers, among other things, can be avoided.

The beneficial effects of citric acid should not be underestimated either, for example when it comes to descaling the coffee machine.

In the past, the mostly successful use of such methods or substances in everyday life would have been named with the good old words trick or home remedies.

Today nothing works without the "Lifehack".

Its accumulation is already annoying in private, but even more so at work.

Eat a little earlier to avoid the line in the canteen - a life hack, of course!

Finally put your own cup in the coffee kitchen in the dishwasher so that it's ready for use again the next day - Lifehack!

Tidy up the desk at the end of the working day to start fresh the next – you guessed it.

Constantly exaggerating what is taken for granted, however, does not help anyone.

The most important life hack would therefore be to stop using the word life hack.

MARTIN GROPP

challenge

In sport, there is something motivating about a challenge: everyone knows that the feat of strength cannot be accomplished in a walk.

But once it's done, the sense of achievement can release fresh energy.

Completely different in professional life.

“Challenge” is the typical phrase, preferably on the executive floor, which is used to cleverly appeal to the sportsmanship of employees.

These should master the "challenges ahead of us" with flying colours.

However, if (as is so often the case) an imbalance in the company is meant, no amount of team spirit can contribute to the solution.

Because in reality it is about problems that have arisen through long-term neglect and are therefore beyond the company's control.

For example, when a product flops on the market because consumer trends have been overslept or the competition is tougher than expected.

Even if the overdue corporate restructuring or a financial emergency is played down with the empty phrase, mistakes made by the management should be concealed, but they should be clearly named.

Tip for smooth talkers: only talk about challenges when there is room for those affected to master them: for many managers, however, this is the real challenge.

ULRICH FRIESE