To hate this phrase a manager at work is using

[ellemenopee]

Cross pollination.

He's started saying it and writing it all the time. For example, 'it is important team A and team B are coming together at this stage to cross fertilise/pollinate knowledge and learning'.

It feels like manager buzz word jargon having gone wrong. I hate it. Feels inappropriate in a work context.

AIBU?

At any meeting when I hear these type of phrases I immediately switch off.

Has he been watching Peter Kay's "Car Share" by any chance? Peter's character, John, manages to have a whole conversation with his boss, Dave, while on the hands free driving home where the entire conversation is made up of nauseating soundbites like this!!

I applied for a job recently and in the (absurdly long) job spec, instead of a heading like Responsibilities, it had the heading 'Core Dimensions'. Wtf?! I almost gave up at that point.

I occasionally have to deal with someone who comes out with such nonsense. I really want a beeper the size of my thumb.

You need to check out Bob Mortimer doing trainguy on Twitter

I use this phrase, firmly tongue in cheek, because I am a crop scientist. Wouldn't appreciate it from anyone who wasn't somehow horticultural!

@ImperfectTents

You need to check out Bob Mortimer doing trainguy on Twitter

Have a cappa-choo-choo on me my friend

My boss is always 'drilling down'
something somewhere

YANBU. What's wrong with sharing ideas and best practice, for example?

I might be tempted to tell him his metaphorical allusions to the biology of sexual reproduction could make some people uncomfortable as we're not all living heteronormative lives, doncha know.

@2bazookas

Just reply in kind , introduce lots more horticultural phrases to work talk

bearing fruit
going to seed
Needs some pruning
green shoots
Harvesting the results
weeding out the surplus
pest control
feeling sluggish
fruitful meeting
fertile ground for growth
muddy waters

With luck your colleagues will catch on and find lots more.

This.

What a twat.

Management or not, I'd have to look at him confused and get him o explain what he means.

"What are you on about?!" (Informal)
"Please explain what you just said"(formal)

Absolute bollocks. Hopefully, they'll have the decency to be embarrassed.

Omg, spider wanking??? 😂😂😂

The latest one in my work is socialise - I need a bit of time to socialise that concept.

Just bloody tell people!

It's up there with hive mind.
Lots of bee imagery.

@Zealois

Ha! YANBU. Someone senior used this ("remember to cross-pollinate with all the teams") at work recently too and I was so glad I was on mute because I couldn't help but laugh. I'd never heard anyone else use it before. Wonder where this particular one started.

Next time "accidently" unmute as you laugh. Then apologize and explain that the phrase is just too hilarious.

Hybrid theory or is the mongrel offspring he is after?

What a Croc.

Say sadly it all went wrong when Jim misconstrued and now Sally is pregnant and her husband is furious.

What is wrong with information sharing?

A manager talking utter crap is nothing new.

They all do, that's what makes them so bad at their jobs.

I might be tempted to tell him his metaphorical allusions to the biology of sexual reproduction could make some people uncomfortable as we're not all living heteronormative lives, doncha know.

This. Start identifying as an ecosexual and being all offended, it's very fashionable.

When people do this it makes me think of Gus in 'Drop the Dead Donkey' and I instinctively start trotting out some of his catchphrases.

@2bazookas

Just reply in kind , introduce lots more horticultural phrases to work talk

bearing fruit
going to seed
Needs some pruning
green shoots
Harvesting the results
weeding out the surplus
pest control
feeling sluggish
fruitful meeting
fertile ground for growth
muddy waters

With luck your colleagues will catch on and find lots more.

@2bazookas has great advice

Hilarious. My previous dickhead manager was always " fleshing out an email " for us or asking us to give him time to "unpack things" when faced with needing to think about something.

@Pieceofpurplesky

It's up there with hive mind. Lots of bee imagery.

Oh god my dippy colleague ( who knows nothing despite being in the job 2 years ), constantly says this, then follows with asking everyone else the answer to a question he should have grasped months ago.

Now come on @ellemenopee don't be so grouchy and sour.

Remember 'team work makes the dream work.............'

Now let's have some blue-sky thinking hmmmmm?