Corporate waffle is rife, so here’s my ten-point guide to how to spot it and what you can do about it.
For a full rundown, have a look at my book Tick Achieve.
1. False arguments
If you know your facts and the other person is incorrect, then you shouldn’t act on their instructions. In fact, you may not even be able to.
2. Circular arguments
If the person in question keeps returning to the same point, then there may only be one point. If it’s valid, then fine. If it’s not, don’t act on it.
3. Repetition
Similar to the circular argument, in which the speaker will head off elsewhere and then return. In the case of repetition, they just keep saying the same thing.
4. Incorrect conclusions
These are what I call "synapse jumps". Many speakers jump a gap and end up in completely the wrong place.
Some people make themselves sound authentic by quoting sources, but they may not be valid, check these assertions carefully
5. Spurious sources
Some people make themselves sound authentic by quoting sources, but they may not be valid. Check these assertions carefully.
6. Irrelevance
It is extraordinary the amount of irrelevant material that is wheeled out to validate a point. The more evidence is offered, the more suspicious you should be.
7. Weak points
Most decent cases either argue for themselves or have one or two solid support points. If a chart has support points, the weak ones at the bottom always undermine the strong ones at the top.
8. Cliché and jargon
Don’t trust it. It is usually disguising something.
9. Inconsistency
Inconsistency is to be viewed suspiciously if it appears in the same speech or written piece. But also keep an eye out for it over time.
10. Vagueness
Vagueness should be easy to spot. If the person can’t come to the point, or clearly hasn’t got one, then ignore them.
Kevin Duncan is an author and campaigner for plain English. His profile and books can be found at expertadviceonline.com
