Just had a cracking end of year review, best one ever (hello bonus, hello n+2).

However, one of the critical points was that I have a tendency to “call a spade a shovel”.

I have no idea what they mean in this context, and it was immediately preceding the end of a great review so I didn’t want to spend much time talking about it (they didn’t seem to be bothered that much about it anyway), there is still time for me to comment or ask questions.

My understanding of this phrase (which, to be honest, I don’t hear very often) is that it’s a reference to a (perhaps sometimes blunt) use of plain English.

I work in an industry where, for clients at least, plain English is often hard to come by and is generally desirable.

Am I missing something?

do you say – “I’m going out on my bike” or “I’m going out on my 2 wheeled vehicle of fun”?

perhaps that’s what they mean?

To call a spade a shovel isn’t being blunt that would be calling a spade a spade. Unless they got the saying wrong then they’re suggesting your not being honest or open.

genius – managers trying to tell you that you don’t communicate well fail to tell you how you’re failing to communicate in a way you can understand

‘calling a spade a shovel’ seems to me to be you not telling it ‘like it is’ but going round the houses?

surely ‘calling a spade a spade’ is being blunt, calling a spade a shovel would be something else?

My understanding of this phrase (which, to be honest, I don’t hear very often) is that it’s a reference to a (perhaps sometimes blunt) use of plain English.

You waffle and don’t get to the point?

do you say – “I’m going out on my bike” or “I’m going out on my 2 wheeled vehicle of fun”?

See, we would just refer to the latter as being verbose, which is undesirable. I think they were alluding to me being the opposite of verbose at times, maybe a bit quick to the point?

maybe they are suggesting you don’t make yourself clear?

I read that as the other way around. If they’d have said you ‘call a spade a spade’ then you should be happy with that. Maybe.

And certainly if someone suggested that I was not using straight English it would bother me. You should ask them what the **** they are talking about.

See, we would just refer to the latter as being verbose, which is undersirable. I think they were alluding to me being the opposite of verbose at times, maybe a bit quick to the point?

See?

They were probably just looking for something to say to keep you on your toes to offset the glowing report.

Or perhaps they are saying you are argumentative.

Or perhaps they have just mixed up their metaphor.

I think Don Simon has it.

You waffle and don’t get to the point?

Isn’t that calling a spade ‘an earth moving implement’

YES!, Er… I think so, oh I don’t know, what do you guys think?

Is your manager Count Arthur Strong?

lol

What they mean is…… we only have shovels but we sold them a spades so we changed its name to match what the thick salesman promised them

….. and you have a habit of still calling it a shovel, get with the program

Heard it the other way round myself – a notoriously blunt guy I worked with was described as ‘not been afraid to call a spade a **** shovel’.

See, we would just refer to the latter as being verbose, which is undesirable. I think they were alluding to me being the opposite of verbose at times, maybe a bit quick to the point?

You are a troll and I claim my £5.

You are a troll and I claim my £5.

😀

Paypal as a gift OK?

A quick Google suggests it has the same meaning.

Well there you go.

I’d love to play bullsh*t bingo in a meeting with you.

Are other favourites of yours “step change”, “lets take this offline” etc etc

I’d love to play bullsh*t bingo in a meeting with you.

too late, allthepies won

was the person using it in the same sense as “spade a spade” (you’re plain spoken/blunt) but making a joke out of it because it’s such a cliche (and completely mangling the message in the process)?

If you’re being asked to talk a bit more flowery for the more senior staff/clients then my way of viewing this is imagine you’re drawing a picture for someone.

If your audience are expert level individuals with significant technical ability, you will draw using a 4H pencil. The drawing will contain specifics to great detail.

If your audience are middle managers it’s time to get the felt tips out. Include colours to signify different business groups/resources. You can draw lines between things and even, if you think your dealing with exceptional individuals, put arrows on them. No specifics though.

If you’re presenting to senior management you need some of those heavy duty crayons that you hold in your fist and big clumps of wax fall off while you’re drawing. Only use primary colours, do not write anything and avoid lines at all costs. You’ll need smiley and sad faces to show what is good and bad.

HTH.

Was there an Elephant in the room?

peterfile – i got the same in my end of year review ….

in the same sentence – my boss said its not a bad thing either but just be careful when you apply it.

coming from my boss who is as subtle as a brick through a glass window. 😀

-also said his review from his boss said the same.

What do you do for a living? If your a groundworker then using a shovel for spade work or using a spade to do a bit of shovelling could be a bit of a problem.

What do you do for a living? If your a groundworker then using a shovel for spade work or using a spade to do a bit of shovelling could be a bit of a problem.

I’m on a quango (one that didn’t get canned) which is trying to phase out race linked phrases from common usage.

Maybe your boss was being literal, and you don’t know the difference. Do you sell garden tools?

well, i used to work in M&A but now I spend most of my time doing B&Q deals.

i think he ran an idea up the flagpole but you didn’t salute it

🙁 poor idea

which is trying to phase out race linked phrases from common usage

How does that work then? Some shadowy organisation seeding popular culture with PC language?

trying to phase out race linked phrases

**tongue very much in cheek**

You don’t have a habit of calling people of afro-caribbean extraction “shovels” do you…?

I’m on a quango (one that didn’t get canned) which is trying to phase out race linked phrases from common usage.

Do [strike]they[/strike] we really have organisations that do that as their only raison d’etre?

I think the OP was being 100% tongue in cheek people!

😆

(couldn’t find a tounge in cheek smilie)

You’d be hopeless at moving snow?