(No Problem 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.)

No Problem

Used everywhere all the time, no problem is not just a business annoyance; it’s a world annoyance.

Of course, we include it here because it’s become an incredibly annoying phrase in the workplace; one we need to strike from our business speak.

Meant as a casual, yet still friendly, replacement for “you’re welcome,” no problem now often sounds like the equivalent of answering “whatever.”

As in, “Yes, I did that thing for you, but I only did it because I feel I’m forced to do it for you, and your gratitude deserves no real acknowledgement from me, so no problem.”

Whatever.

Who said it could be a problem? We asked you for something… you delivered… thank you.

When you answer no problem, you’re implying there could’ve been a problem. We get that there wasn’t one but that’s not the point. There was never going to be a problem!

Your dismissive no problem makes us want to take back our thank you.

Why not go old school and reply with “you’re welcome?” Or, if you feel the need to be with the times – and make us feel even better about asking you for something in the first place – why not go with the Chick-fil-A “my pleasure?”

Either way, we’ll walk away appreciating your efforts way more than if you give us a lackadaisical no problem. (And don’t get us started on those who use no problem as a substitute for yes. Ugh.)

Replacement phrases: You’re welcome; My pleasure

See also: Haters Gonna Hate

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