Key Words To Use
Being in a government job where I wrote a lot of reports, high level briefing papers, operation orders, after action reports, intelligence briefs and the like, I was always conscious of the language and words I used.
Every time I heard a new word or come across a ‘cool’ sounding word or phrase, I made a note of it and when it come time to write, I would often consult my list.
I admittedly took humour in it that at some time someone would be, what does that mean…
Anyway, here is my list of words and phrases:
When the time to perform has arrived, the time to prepare has passed.
This is a phrase from a Military angle that derives from the analogy that you must prepare for things and when the time to spring into action occurs, there is no time to prepare. A bit like the saying, the more you sweat, the less you bleed. But can certainly be utilised in corporate & private enterprise.
Path of least resistance.
If your tracking someone, chasing them, trying to catch up, most people will take the path of least resistance, meaning the way without the most obstacles, delays, whether it be running through a neighbourhood on foot or driving your way through traffic.
Double back.
To go back in the direction that one has come.
Expectancy error (also referred to as Expectancy Effect, Observer expectancy effect)
This is a term that I first heard in aviation by Craig Guise. It accepts that we are human and we are prone to make errors. May include conscious or unconscious influences on a subject or situation, behaviours, that influences subjects and the altered or selective recording of results.
Flir kill.
Unless your using a Forward Looking Infrared device, you probably wont use it, but the meaning is to detect your subject by FLIR.
Nefarious.
Wicked or criminal
Post haste
With great speed or immediately.
Maladaptive.
Not adjusting adequately or appropriately to the environment or situation.
I would often use this in personnel development reports.
Operationally ineffective /Combat ineffective.
I took combat ineffective and used it as operational ineffective. For when something simply does not work.
Occupational violence.
Some jobs like combat and police, security maybe, have a certain amount of perceived occupational violence. When it come time to doing after action reports, I would often refer to there is or was a perceived amount of occupational violence. (How we handle that can be another medium article at another time)
Circumspect
Wary and unwilling to take risks.
Sadly we all know managers and superiors like this.
Wherewithal
The money or other means needed for a particular purpose.
Finality
The fact or impression of being final and irreversible.
A tone or manner which indicates no further comment or argument.
An action or event that ends something irreversible.
Purview.
The scope of the influence or concerns of something.
A range of experience or thought.
Repugnant.
Extremely distasteful, unacceptable, in conflict or incompatible with.
Exigent.
Pressing or demanding. Ie we took action due to exigent circumstances.
Aggressed.
To initiate an attack, war, fight, quarrel, commit the first act of hostilities.
Asinine.
Extremely stupid or foolish.
IFO.
In front of. Pronounced as letters, I F O, or written IFO. Ie RV or meet IFO 54 X Street.
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Manage our expectations:
When superiors wanted a lot from our teams.
Obstructionist:
A person who deliberately delays or prevents progress.
Actionable intelligence
Fancy way of saying, lets take something and turn it into something.
Inattentional blindness.
The phenomenon of missing things that are right in front of you. Things that you don’t want to see.
Seeking your counsel
Just another way of asking for direction or help. I would use this often in both written and verbal when someone would criticize a particular method, and would plainly say, well Sir, I seek your counsel on how you would handle this….
Providing counsel:
Similar to above, another way of saying I will assist, direct you.
Re-calibrate
The meaning is self explanatory but as a leader of people I would use this term in addressing them when they needed to change an idea or behaviour. Ie- I feel we or you need to re-calibrate your beliefs or thoughts on….
Exponentially.
With reference to an increase more and more rapidly. (ie the insurgent group on the southern border has grown exponentially…)
Enigmatic.
difficult to understand or interpret
calamity.
disaster unexpected event.
Intellectually deficient.
A swipe at someone’s ability to perform.
Happenstance.
Coincidence.
Tactical patience.
The ability to wait out and wait for the right opportunity.
Strategic restraint.
Refer above. But can be used in a more of corporate environment.
Intelligent waiting
Refer above.
carte blanche
Complete freedom to act as one wishes. I often used this when addressing behaviour outside the scope, ie, who gave you authority to act or run all ‘carte blanche’
Subversive:
Trouble maker, dissent, seeking or intended to subvert an established system or institution.
Zero footprint:
Leave no trace. More so used in a tactical situation.
Informational landscape.
What is in front of you, what you found, see, feel, etc..
Equanimity.
Mental calmness and composure.
Intestinal fortitude.
is defined as courage and endurance to go on.
Semblance.
The outward appearance or apparent form of something, especially when reality is different.
Populous.
A large population or crowd, turnout.
I will keep adding as I get more words, or if you have some unique words, let me know.
