The local Government Association has released a list of 200 words and phrases which councils should avoid as they are unclear.
Included on the list are the following terms and their recommended replacements:
Actioned – Do
Core message – Main Point
Functionality – Use
Outcome focused output – Result
Potentialities – Chances
Transformational – Change
You can see the full list by clicking the link.
Leeds City Council has risen to the challenge, slashing the statement:
“Individual Chief Officers have the delegated authority to appoint employees on a temporary basis to provide cover for staff absences, to cater for peaks in workload and to deal with any tasks which may arise which are outside of normal workload of the department. Such approvals to be subject to there being budgetary provision available and a check being made with the Personnel and Training Division to ascertain whether the cover could be provided by either a redeployment or a secondment.”
Down to a simple:
“If they are required, money is available, and the job can’t be done by another member of staff, chief officers may hire temporary workers.”
If you want people to listen to what you say and do what you ask, being clear, succinct and dare I say, transparent, works.
Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash
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