The language matters, but the number underneath it is the part that doesn't get discussed enough. 7,800 people cut, 74,000 stay, and share price up 12%. That gap is the actual signal. The market didn't reward the phrase, it rewarded the headcount reduction, which means every other CEO watching learned that harsh language costs a news cycle but soft language costs nothing at all. The euphemism isn't protecting the workers. It's protecting the leaders who'd rather not notice they made the same call.
Really enjoyed this Andy, not because of the inhumanity in the world of work that downplays human involvement in organisational success, but because it rings true. I try and avoid many of these words/ phrases at work and have tried that for many years. I make a point of centering the human, even though I'm a big tech fan and I don't see a need to change that especially in the context of AI. Thank you for banging the drum on this. Words truly matter when you are signalling intent on how you plan to treat the people who make your business a success.
The language matters, but the number underneath it is the part that doesn't get discussed enough. 7,800 people cut, 74,000 stay, and share price up 12%. That gap is the actual signal. The market didn't reward the phrase, it rewarded the headcount reduction, which means every other CEO watching learned that harsh language costs a news cycle but soft language costs nothing at all. The euphemism isn't protecting the workers. It's protecting the leaders who'd rather not notice they made the same call.
Wow, that Standard Chartered quote is brutal.
My most hated word? “Job losses”
…like they’ve misplaced them somehow down the back of the sofa🙄
And "Brain Capital" is another recent one
Really enjoyed this Andy, not because of the inhumanity in the world of work that downplays human involvement in organisational success, but because it rings true. I try and avoid many of these words/ phrases at work and have tried that for many years. I make a point of centering the human, even though I'm a big tech fan and I don't see a need to change that especially in the context of AI. Thank you for banging the drum on this. Words truly matter when you are signalling intent on how you plan to treat the people who make your business a success.
Say you have a magic wand to redefine the term: what would tou call that function? Would it still exist?
Excellent article!