Your Words Reflect Your Attitude

Today's ETPanache has a story which talks of Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s tendency to resorting to catch phrases. Cook prone to the catchphrase “mother of all” and Pichai “early days”. The article suggests the two go in for a ‘vocabulary’ upgrade. But I see it differently.

To me, it is a reflection of their attitudes and the culture of the organisation they head. After all, words are merely a vehicle for our thoughts, an articulation of a perspective. Analysing the catchphrases through this lens, suggests to me the following about the two:

Tim Cook: Looks at situations in an exaggerated fashion. Not to say it’s bad - after all Steve Jobs always thought in grand terms. And succeeded.

Sundar Pichai: Looks a situation as “work in progress”. To me that indicates a need to get it right, of perfection.
Have I got it right,  I have no idea, I will when I start coaching them : )

So how would you assess the two personalities, based on their tendency to use their favourite catchphrases?

Buzz Off Buzz Words!

Carter Murray, the CEO of ad agency FCB, makes for an unusual CEO.  He hates buzzwords. Something that many of his contemporaries appear to find comfort and meaning in.  Murray calls them "completely wanky, corporate rubbish speak." He can't stand the stuff. Asked how he gets by as CEO with such distaste for industry jargon,  Murray says,  "We are in the business of understanding people and advising clients on how to connect with them. I find it strange that we hide behind the corporate lingo."

#Reflect
Am I a jargon buster or a Jargon Morgan?