LET'S CIRCLE BACK ON THIS LATER

When your supervisor tells you he or she will “circle back” on an issue, it means “to discuss it later.” Mike Wolfe, co-founder and CEO of WAM Enterprises in Katonah, N.Y., said that it's one of his most disliked examples of office jargon.

You’re at your desk, and someone says, “Let’s circle back on this later.”

Suddenly, your brain spirals: Do they hate my idea? Did I mess up? Am I about to get fired?! Boom—your internal drama is now in full swing.

Work is stressful enough without turning small moments into epic plot twists.

When we hashtag#overreact, we’re not just exhausting ourselves—we’re also creating unnecessary tension in the workplace.

We’ve all been there. One tiny moment at work—a missed email, a vague comment, or even a weird look—can feel like a major crisis.

But the truth is , most of the time, it’s not nearly as serious as we think.

Thirteen percent of workers called it the most annoying phrase used in the office. In a post discussing “soul-sucking corporate phrases”, Los Angeles Magazine listed circle back as annoying jargon used in the office. Here’s their take on the phrase:

“Why is this so crushing? Maybe because it so instantly rolls off the tongue. It’s used so quickly. Hey, maybe I want to get into it right then and there and I should feel like I can, instead of being thoroughly dismissed, because ideas and thoughts and inspiration come when they come, so don’t tell me to siphon off my creativity, and clip my wings and undermine me automatically and assume you’ll always have a better idea.”

Overreacting at work not only drains your energy, but it can also make the workplace unnecessarily tense.

Here’s a hashtag#cheatcode: Before reacting, pause. Ask yourself, “Is this worth the emotional energy?”

Nine times out of ten, the answer is no.

Breathe, clarify, and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself.

Trust me, the office drama dies quickly when you refuse to play the lead role !

LET'S CIRCLE BACK ON THIS LATER? What's your decision?

All reactions:

1Klaus Doring