Bullshit-Free Communication
The Business Bullshit Book contains the world’s most comprehensive collection of cliché, jargon and bullshit, diligently collected over 40 years. Amusing yet with a serious point, this collection highlights the danger and unsuitability of much language in business.
Many businesses are incapable or articulating their products and propositions in a compelling and distinctive way. After a review of the psychology behind unclear language, we resolve it with practical work on the company’s communication materials.
This ensures that all plans, proposals and customer communications are crystal clear in the future.
Example Content
IDENTIFYING UNCLEAR LANGUAGE
- Cliché and jargon red alert list
- Ubiquitous and identical materials
- The detrimental effect of unclear communication
THE PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND BULLSHIT
- What is it?
- How to define it
- Why is it tolerated?
GUESS THE BRAND
- Vision, values, mission, and purpose de-constructed
- Communications blizzard of samey language
- Lack of differentiation
MATERIALS REVIEW
- Website, company report, marketing claims
- External communications
- Internal communications
Summary
This is a fascinating and deceptive course. Easy to dismiss as pure comedy, it has a deadly serious message. Many companies have working practices and materials that are generic and unclear – something that can always be improved.
Outcome
This course has the power to clear out all the dead language from a company’s work methods and communications – a powerful and cathartic exercise. Eliminating cliché and articulating brand messages more clearly.
Sample Source Material
Leadership BS – Jeffrey Pfeffer
Business Bullshit – Andre Spicer
No Bullshit Leadership – Chris Hirst
On Bullshit – Harry Frankfurt
“Refreshingly no-nonsense.”
Henry Hitchings, London Evening Standard, author of The Language Wars