Clichéd Phrases Don’t Motivate

Every profession has them. A lot of people in leadership roles use them. They are Cliched Phrases and they Don’t Motivate. Some of them are downright catchy but regardless of how well-intentioned the phrase may have seemed, they don’t give the employees what they really need – the support, tools, and means to do their jobs. This is especially true when used by someone in a leadership role that offers little more than a clichéd phrase vice real help.

But in every phase of my career I have heard them. And, I am sorry to report, I have even used them a couple of times. Some of them are cute, even funny. Witty, maybe. But none of them ever helped me do my job better. In truth, everyone I have talked to about this is turned off by cheap clichés.

So here is a question. How many of you have ever been motivated to do better by one of these clichéd sound bites? I really don’t know who they inspire other than perhaps the person quoting them. They don’t provide anything to make anyone successful. And to the persons using these quotes – do you really think you’re motivating anyone with them? Are you making sure your employees are equipped properly to do their jobs?

While I have seen them everywhere in my various career paths, the ones that stand out the most are the ones I have heard in my sales/BD career. Here are a few of the types of phrases about which I am speaking:

Are you In It to Win It?

Because everyone likes losing.

The difference between try and triumph is umph!

Only with bad spelling.

This quarter is our most important quarter!

Every quarter is the most important.

We gotta make the number.

Oh, I thought you were kidding about that.

I piss excellence.

That must hurt.

Do you have the juice?

Yeah, which flavor do you want.

Seriously, are goals achieved through catchy phrases? I’d love to know one that is (other than a goal of creating catchy phrases). These clichés are NOT a strategy. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great motivational phrases out there but a motivational phrase without the means to accomplish the goal are useless.

This is equally true when dealing with customers. I did not seek out a career in sales. It found me. I was on a colleague’s sales call with him at the very beginning of my sales career and in the meeting he says, “So, Mr. Customer…what keeps you awake at night.” I almost burst out laughing. I’m pretty sure I cast a sideways look at him. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard people say that you need to ask them what keeps them awake at night. I know what the intent there is but I would never use that phraseology. So I made a vow to try NEVER to sound like a clichéd sales rep. I think I have done pretty well with that vow. Customers don’t want clichéd phrases either. They want help and they want results.

So, what clichéd phrases top your list? And “at the end of the day” did they motivate you?

We want to hear what you think. Leave a comment and let’s start a discussion.

Copyright © 2014 The Cobalt Group, LLC. All rights reserved.