(Been There, Done That is an annoying business term and is just one of the 212 Most Annoying Business Phrases Managers Effuse, Confuse, and Overuse detailed in the hilarious must-have guide for every workplace: The 30,000-Pound Gorilla in the Room. Available right now on Amazon.)

Been There, Done That

When a manager or coworker annoyingly tells you they’ve been there, done that, they’re explaining in the most irritating terms that whatever the task, issue, or opportunity ahead, it borders on tedium for them.

After all, they’ve been there, done that, right?

They’re more than experienced; they’ve seen it all. In fact, you’re a nuisance for even bringing it up. Shame on you. Don’t you understand the genius you’re working with? Don’t you appreciate the vast knowledge and skill in front of you?

Of course, those that reach for this tired phrase are among the most annoying people who will ever occupy a seat in your workplace. Likewise, they’re the most exhausting windbags you will ever work with or work for.

If their only transgression was their near daily been there, done that, we could forgive them and move on. No, they are the masters of the clichéd; the hackneyed; the worn-out.

They dip into the trough of annoying phrases like it’s the sundae bar at Golden Corral – they want to get all they can right now in case the world explodes, and the restaurant manager is forced to shut down the soft serve machine.

They spew annoying phrases because they can… and because they’re oblivious to everyone’s (correct) perception of them.

Clearly, they’re mostly right. It seems they’ve been there, done that (again and again) when it comes to annoying jargon.

Replacement phrases: Experienced (or, perhaps just stop saying telling everyone how smart or experienced you are and see if your sentences sound less douchey)

See also: Not My First Rodeo

…

The 30,000-Pound Gorilla in the Room is available on Amazon