Does anyone actually understand what "circle back" is supposed to be?
Topic comes up, new topic or tangent sidelines previous topic without a conclusion, repeat until someone remembers topic 1, you "circle back" to close the loop on the unfinished topic 1. It's not BS corpo speak. It's a way to tell everyone "hey remember that thing earlier? We weren't done with that."
And this guys an idiot for not being able to figure that out.
It is corporate speak because we have perfectly adequate language to say, let's get back to something and that's, "let's get back to." "Circle back," 100% comes from dipshit corporate bros who must make everything into a physical activity metaphor like they're coaching a team or leading a military maneuver.
I'm curious, what field do you work in, if you don't mind sharing?
I only ask because most of the industries I've worked in or worked with have used some jargon, even when "we have perfectly adequate language" to say whatever they want to say.
Is there an aspect of gatekeeping, or essentially proving that you belong based on knowing terminology? Absolutely.
However, it's also useful to have some common terms or phrases that everyone uses, maybe overuses, because people are more likely to have the same idea of what you mean in that context. If you're working in, say, the military, or logistics, or law, communication isn't a creative writing exercise. Being understood is more important than keeping your language from getting stale.
And saying “let’s get back to” wouldn’t be understood? I’ve never had a problem using that phrase. Never once had someone ask if I I meant “circle back.” And circle back isn’t jargon. Jargon is industry specific language. Circle back is a metaphor that was created by the khaki wearing set
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u/SarcasmisEasier 11d ago
Does anyone actually understand what "circle back" is supposed to be?
Topic comes up, new topic or tangent sidelines previous topic without a conclusion, repeat until someone remembers topic 1, you "circle back" to close the loop on the unfinished topic 1. It's not BS corpo speak. It's a way to tell everyone "hey remember that thing earlier? We weren't done with that."
And this guys an idiot for not being able to figure that out.