by Chris Bennett
In business, clichés can be a lazy way of communicating what should be a clear and understandable message. And obviously, if you can't communicate clearly you will sound unprofessional and this is not good for business.
Here's an example of a whole paragraph of clichés. Do you recognize any? Do you understand the message?
When all is said and done, for all intents and purposes and after due consideration, call it a day. Bang your head against a brick wall; the writing is on the wall. Keep your ear to the ground, open the floodgates and put your best foot forward. Make the ultimate sacrifice; take your best shot over my dead body. Say no more! My lips are sealed, to say the least, and that's that.
If you did understand the above paragraph then please let me know, because I have no idea what it means!
Here are three tips on how to reduce or eliminate clichés.
Find Out
Check our resource list in this ezine for examples of clichés. There are many listed. Some are obvious and some are not so obvious. See if you can spot any that have crept into your vocabulary and see if you can spot clichés that other people are using.
Listen to Yourself
When you communicate with others, listen to what you are saying and determine if you do 'speak in tongues' (clichés). If you do, then note which clichés you tend to use and make an effort to reduce or eliminate them. This will help you communicate effectively and save the other person from groaning.
Feedback
Get feedback from someone you trust to tell you if you are using any cliché(s) on a regular basis. Strangely enough, when you become aware of which clichés you're using you may initially find that you use them even more! But in time you should find that your awareness of certain clichés will help you to reduce your use of them.
Finally, here's a challenge for you. See if you can go through one whole day without using a cliché.
If you can, then give me a call and 'let's do lunch'.
