A corporate phrase to avoid: replace trying by doing

There’s a popular corporate phrase that drives me crazy. And your business partners away. It goes with the verb “to try”. Basically, it says to the other party that you are failing and that you know it.

You either do something — or you don’t do it at all.

Trying fits somewhere inbetween — which suggests that you are not quite serious. That you are not determined enough. That you are somehow circling around.

Don’t believe me? Find a mirror, stand in front of it and repeat aloud, after me, with all the seriousness, these phrases:

“We try to implement a new information system in our company.”

“Once we sign the contract, we will try do our best to provide you with the agreed services.”

“I try to exercise every morning and lose 2 kg till summer.”

How did that sound? Encouragingly? Trustworthy? Believably? Although I wasn’t there, I don’t think so.

How do you “try” to implement that system? Is it some kind of experiment that just keeps you entertained? How do “try” to provide the promised services? Is it a lottery for your clients that may work or perhaps not? How do you “try” to get fit? Is it by dressing up into the gym clothes, but not actually running afterwards?

When you say “I/we try to do something”, you immediately sound weak. Passive victim of circumstances. You would like to — but somehow the odds are against you. You would like to — but it’s not really working. You are not doing it, you are just trying to do it.

Have you ever tried to swim? Not swimming! Just trying. Don’t do(!) anything to stay on the surface, just try(!).

Disclaimer: do not do it in real life :) If you did, you would be dead by now, drowned and eaten by fishes. Because you either do swim — even badly and with poor technique — or sink to the bottom.

So why are the phrases with “try” so popular in corporations and business?

They are non-committal. They provide an illusive safe-house for the speaker.

Therefore, watch carefully for the phrases with “try”:

a) When you are an executive manager or business owner and your employees use them when reporting on their activities. Scrutinize them!

b) When you are meeting your business partners and they use them when pitching the propositions. Run away!

c) When you hear yourself to say them. Change your attitude!

The change management programs can help you address (a) or (c) — and actually even (b) if it’s your own sales people. Whichever way you decide to go, just don’t try it. Do it :)