Writing Boots

On communication, professional and otherwise.

Change-communication cliches to avoid (like the plague)

01.05.2009 by David Murray // 12 Comments

For McMurry's fabulous free publication ContentWise, I'm writing article on change communication don'ts—they outnumber the do's, do they not?—and I'm gathering a list of change-communication cliches to avoid.

Here's what I've got so far.

• "Change is the only constant."

• "change (ˈchānj): to make different in some particular … b: to make radically different … c: to give a different position, course, or direction to …."

• “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

What is my cliché-numbed mind forgetting? Help!

Categories // Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Steve C. says

    January 5, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    “Great companies don’t wait to react to change, they make it happen on their own.”

    Reply
  2. Steve C. says

    January 5, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    “Great companies don’t wait to react to change, they make it happen on their own.”

    Reply
  3. David Murray says

    January 5, 2009 at 12:55 pm

    Oh, that’s gross; you see that a lot?
    Conversely, I found a quote that I bet has NEVER appeared in an organizational publication:
    “All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward. ~Ellen Glasgow”
    Ellen must have worked for Chrysler at one time.

    Reply
  4. Rueben says

    January 5, 2009 at 3:06 pm

    “Change presents us with challenges and opportunities” – or any other tiresome line that tries to spin challenges as opportunities. The truth is, as the Ellen Glasgow line suggests, sometimes change just sucks.

    Reply
  5. Steve C. says

    January 5, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    I agree, Rueben . . . and was disappointed to see the old “Challenges and Opportunties” headline on Obama’s change.org site.
    Obviously, the same person writing his magnificent speeches isn’t writing his web copy.
    Steve C.

    Reply
  6. Steve C. says

    January 5, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    I agree, Rueben . . . and was disappointed to see the old “Challenges and Opportunties” headline on Obama’s change.org site.
    Obviously, the same person writing his magnificent speeches isn’t writing his web copy.
    Steve C.

    Reply
  7. Eileen Burmeister says

    January 5, 2009 at 5:13 pm

    My favorite cliche is “Change change change…change you fools!” Who knew Aretha knew so much about change communication. Direct and to the point.

    Reply
  8. David Murray says

    January 6, 2009 at 8:26 am

    And then of course there’s Jim Morrison’s “Changeling”:
    I’ve had money,
    And I’ve had none.
    I’ve had money,
    And I’ve had none.
    But I’ve never been so broke
    That I couldn’t leave town.

    Reply
  9. Yossi Mandel says

    January 6, 2009 at 8:31 am

    McMurry has some fabulous change cliches in their “About Us” section emphasizing “Create Change” as a value.
    I signed up for the newsletter, your enthusiasm for it would indicate that they write much better copy for the newsletter than their website.

    Reply
  10. David Murray says

    January 6, 2009 at 8:49 am

    Thanks, Yossi. Your good faith will be rewarded.

    Reply
  11. Eileen Burmeister says

    January 6, 2009 at 11:50 am

    How about this? http://despair.com/changewinds.html

    Reply
  12. Mike says

    January 6, 2009 at 1:26 pm

    “Now *that’s* change we can believe in!”
    All persons saying or writing this will be shot.
    All Republicans saying or writing this will be hanged first, then shot.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Now Available

An Effort to Understand

Order Now

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE BLOG UPDATES

About

David Murray writes on communication issues.
Read More

 

Categories

  • Baby Boots
  • Communication Philosophy
  • Efforts to Understand
  • Happy Men, and Other Eccentrics
  • Human Politicians
  • Mister Boring
  • Murray Cycle Diaries
  • Old Boots
  • Rambling, At Home and Abroad
  • Sports Stories
  • The Quotable Murr
  • Typewriter Truths
  • Uncategorized
  • Weird Scenes Inside the Archives

Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

  • Preorder An Effort to Understand
  • Sign Up for Blog Updates
  • About David Murray