Jack of All Trades, Master of None

(Jack of all Trades 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.)

Jack of All Trades, Master of None

Jack of all trades, master of none is an insult that’s in some way the opposite of good with a hammer so he thinks everything is a nail.

In the latter, the insultee is good at something – probably too good.

In the case of jack of all trades, master of none, the insultee isn’t all that good at anything. Worse, the insultee fancies himself an expert on all things, while the insulter pretty much thinks the insultee is worthless.

The annoyance with this saying comes from both its overuse and its incorrect blanket assumptions.

The longer you work in business, the more you’ll find everyone is good at something. Additionally, you can (and should) learn something from everyone you meet – especially at work.

We’re well beyond the time to shelve most of the terms and phrases in this book, but getting rid of jack of all trades, master of none is long, long overdue.

Those in your business still insulting coworkers, subordinates, or superiors probably need to remember the advice their mothers likely gave them. That is, if you don’t have anything nice to say about someone, don’t say anything at all.

Replacement phrases: No replacement needed; just try finding the value in everyone. (Now, let’s all hug and sing Kumbaya.)

See also: Good with a Hammer (So… Everything is a Nail)

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