January 19, 2011

Results-Oriented Problem Solvers

At the end of 2010, the business social networking site LinkedIn released the top "overused buzzwords" found in users' profiles that year. For the U.S., they are:
  1. Extensive experience
  2. Innovative
  3. Motivated
  4. Results-oriented
  5. Dynamic
  6. Proven track record
  7. Team player
  8. Fast-paced
  9. Problem solver
  10. Entrepreneurial
Is there a problem with using these buzzwords? If everyone professes to be "innovative" and "motivated," the terms lose their impact. People combing through profiles will gloss over excessively used phrases while seeking traits that stand out from the pack.

The worth of these words can be rescued often if they're followed by evidence that shows they're not empty placeholders. "Problem solvers" could point to problems they have solved, and the "results-oriented" could discuss
results achieved.

So on behalf of all the
motivated and results-oriented team players out there with extensive entrepreneurial experience and proven track records, let's be innovative problem solvers in this dynamic and fast-paced world.

(Just seeing if I could fit them all into one sentence.)