My colleague Diana Waterman asked me this week for my list of least favorite jargon used in business. I quickly came up with five, they are:

1. Existing customer – as opposed to a, what, non-existing customer, the term should be current customer or just customer.
2. Discount – when we really mean preferred price or promotional price.
3. Channel - sorry I just don’t like the term when referring to people.
4. Training – when we mean education. Horses and dogs are trained, people are educated.
5. Ping – when used to mean “get in touch with.” I am not an IP address, I would prefer not to be pinged, thanks.

I asked Diana and she graciously allowed my to post her top five as well. They are:

1. Dialogue – when referring to a conversation. (OK, I am guilty on this one. In all fairness I do try to explain the term.)
2. Spearhead – when used as a verb meaning to take the lead on on a particular project.
3. Incentivize – meaning to create an incentive for. PS – incent is not a word either.
4. Interface – as in have a conversation. Again, this is one of those computer terms that is degrading to use when talking about people.
5. Socialize  - when speaking about an idea and meaning to talk about it with others.

Please share your list with us. You do not have to have five, but I ask that you limit yourself to five.