(Bring Your ‘A’ Game 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.)

Bring Your ‘A’ Game

Ugh, another sports analogy brought into the business world!

Of course, the worst part of this annoying phrase is those who utter it assume their subordinates often show up with their ‘B’ or ‘C’ games. Should we infer their team is made up primarily of slackers who will give their best only when pressed?

If that’s the case – to keep the sports analogies going – this sounds like a coaching issue… and not a problem with the players.

To be clear, there are going to be situations in your business – perhaps once a year or so for most teams – where the outcome is so critical everyone needs to be reminded of its significance. In these cases, we prefer to speak without clichés and merely ensure everyone understands (in plain language) the importance of a positive outcome.

If you’re one who must regularly and openly ask the most from your team, perhaps instead of reminding them they need to bring a given “game” via your tired clichés, you should work to develop your leadership skills until everyone is giving their best all the time.

You know, bringing it 24/7/365 like you do, right?

Replacement phrases: Arrive prepared; Be ready; Do your best

See also: Give 110%; Work Smarter, Not Harder; 24/7/365

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