![\"Office](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/09\/Header-An-Illustrated-Guide-to-Office-Cliches.png\")
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We’ve all encountered office speak that crops up a bit too often and doesn\u2019t make much sense. In fact, that\u2019s precisely what makes it so humorous. With these literal illustrations, we guarantee you\u2019ll see these old office clich\u00e9s in a brand new light.<\/p>\n
Low-hanging fruit<\/strong><\/p>\n Grabbing the low-hanging fruit in a vineyard is a straightforward proposition. At work, that proverbial \u201cfruit\u201d represents the easiest or most obvious tasks. Unless your office really does have fruit hanging from the ceiling, in which case we envy you.<\/p>\n Run it up the flagpole<\/strong><\/p>\n Otherwise known as \u201ctell people about it.\u201d Sometimes, though, it’s not enough to merely communicate something to people; instead, one must figuratively run it up a flagpole so that people can salute.<\/p>\n Peel back the layers of the onion<\/strong><\/p>\n Everyone knows that onions have multiple layers. So what do you gain from metaphorically peeling them back at work? A systematic, thorough investigation of a problem. One layer at a time.<\/p>\n Square the circle<\/strong><\/p>\n Referring to a problem in ancient geography, squaring the circle effectively requires one to carry out the impossible. Get ready, because this project might just require a miracle!<\/p>\n Reinvent the wheel<\/strong><\/p>\n There is a kind of logic underlying this expression. Reinventing the wheel and improving on it would be a pretty tough gig, and sometimes it\u2019s best to keep things simple. You know what they say: if it ain\u2019t broke, don\u2019t fix it.<\/p>\n Break down silos<\/strong><\/p>\n What exactly are silos? And how do you break them down? When told this, don’t break into a farm and smash up its grain storage system. Instead, reflect on the atomized organisational structure of your office and resolve to build some more joined-up processes. In short, talk to people more.<\/p>\n Pushing the envelope<\/strong><\/p>\n Sounds like an easy task since envelopes are quite light and easy to push, right? Unfortunately, nothing is ever that simple in the office. This one requires you to extend the apparent limits of performance.<\/p>\n Ducks in a row<\/strong><\/p>\n Ducks are orderly creatures and simply adore swimming in a row. So when asked to put ducks in a row in the office, you are being asked to organise things generally in order to create an orderly appearance. Like ducks swimming in a row.<\/p>\n![\"easily](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/09\/1_Low-Hanging-Fruit.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"test](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/09\/2_Run-it-up-the-flagpole.png\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Investigate](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/09\/3_Layers-of-an-onion.png\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Attempt](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/09\/4_Square-the-circle.png\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Attempting](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/09\/5_Reinvent-the-wheel.png\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"encourage](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/09\/6_Break-down-silos.png\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Attempting](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/09\/7_Pushing-the-envelope.png\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"To](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/09\/8_Ducks-in-a-row.png\")
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![\"To](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/09\/9_Play-hardball.png\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"To](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/09\/10_Keep-me-in-the-loop.png\")
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