Leverage and Pivot Like a Pro: A Deep Dive Into Buzzwords We Can’t Stop Using

Business buzzwords are like the seasoning in the world of corporate life—sometimes essential, sometimes overused, and always sprinkled around meetings like it’s the perfect recipe for success. Whether you’re a startup guru or a seasoned executive, it seems that every meeting has its own set of magic words designed to make you sound like you know what you’re talking about. So we thought it would be fun to give you a little insight into some of our favorites.

Let’s dive into these verbal power moves and, for good measure, we’ll add in a little commentary to keep things interesting. After all, what's business jargon without a little humor to balance it out?

1. Synergy

It’s the word that says, “We could work well together, but it sounds way cooler if I say it in a fancy way.” Basically, this term is about the combined power of different forces that make something greater than the sum of its parts. At our digital creative agency, we know synergy is when our design and development teams work together so seamlessly, completing each other’s ideas without missing a beat (and throwing coffee cups in frustration is kept to a minimum 😁). 

Let’s be honest, though—every time someone says synergy, you’re probably just nodding and thinking, “Ah yes, more corporate magic. Now, where’s the real value?”

2. Leverage

Leverage is the business equivalent of the word “use,” but with a much fancier and more impressive ring to it. You could simply say, “Let’s make the most of this opportunity,” but what would be the fun in that?

And around here, we are not afraid to leverage everything! From tools that automate our workflows to our collective expertise in creating beautiful designs. If you can leverage something, do it. The fancier, the better.

3. Pivot

Pivot is like that dance move you learned in middle school: it sounds impressive, but most of us are just trying not to trip over our feet. In business, though, pivoting means making a strategic shift or change in direction. It’s also the perfect way to say, “We made a mistake, but we’re going to pretend it was part of the plan.”

We’ve all been there: you’re on a project, things aren’t going as planned, and the only option is to pivot. But, hey, it’s a strategic pivot, so everything is going to be just fine, right? It’s basically a permission slip to change your mind mid-project without feeling bad about it. 

4. Circle Back

Ever had someone tell you they’ll circle back to you on something? You know that means you won’t hear from them for a while, but they’ve left the door open for a conversation later. Circling back has become a go-to phrase for avoiding direct answers without making it sound like you’re ignoring the problem.

It’s that beautiful corporate escape route that makes you sound like you’re being responsible, even though you’re really just putting off the inevitable. We’re a digital creative agency that likes to circle back on all the good ideas—like when we circle back to discuss how to make “synergy” sound more exciting in our next meeting.

5. Bandwidth

Bandwidth isn’t just for tech people anymore. It’s now the term that explains whether or not you’re able to take on a new project. It’s the fancy way of saying, “I’m too busy,” without sounding like you’re just trying to avoid work. 

Bandwidth is our go-to for measuring whether we’ve got the capacity to take on more work. If the bandwidth is there, we’re all in. But we’re careful not to overload it—because nobody wants to see us buffering mid-project!

6. Deep Dive

Not just pool party lingo anymore, a deep dive means taking a closer, more comprehensive look at something. We’ve all been asked to take a deep dive into a project, a process, or even a problem. It sounds serious, doesn’t it? It’s like saying, “We’re not just scratching the surface; we’re going all in.”

We’re all about those deep dives—whether it’s untangling complex processes or creating custom web designs. Sometimes, the best solutions are hiding way below the surface, and we’re not afraid to grab our flippers and go after them!

In conclusion...

These business buzzwords might be here to stay—but at least we’re not taking them too seriously. Whether we’re leveraging synergies, pivoting on our bandwidth, or diving deep into the next big project, we’re always here for the ride (and we’ll be sure to circle back next year with a new round of buzzwords 😉).