Management Theory M: The Fount of the Next New Business Buzzword Bonanza

By Karen Susman

Move over Theories X, Y, and Z. Make room for more than 360˚ feedback. Announcing the next new thing. Roll out the red carpet for Theory M. “M” as in Mensch Management. Mensch, a Yiddish word, means an honorable person. If all leaders led and managers managed like mensches – with honesty, integrity, and respect for all people – profits would soar, the chitchat around the water cooler would be more positive, and retirement funds would be intact.

As with any management theory worth its weight in lox, Theory M comes with a slew of buzzwords – buzzwords to replace “paradigm shift, “ “data dump,” and “benchmarking.” Don’t ask, “Who moved my cheese?” Ask, “Who schmeared cream cheese on my bagel?” To help you schlep up to speed, here is a partial glossary of Theory M lingo and business adaptations.

Theory M Glossary:

• Chutzpah. (hutz-pa) Clear your throat as you say the “ch.” Rhymes with “foots paw.” 1. Guts, audacity. 2. A brazen move. “Making that deal took real chutzpah.”
  
  Application: Develop chutzpah in yourself and your team. If you want to succeed in this global marketplace and uncertain times, you’ve got to take risks.
  
  
• Maven. (may-ven) Rhymes with “raven.” An expert. Example. “We called in a consultant. He was a knowledge management maven.
  
  Application: You don’t have to know it all. Save time, frustration, and money by calling in an expert to compliment your expertise.
  
  
• Megillah. (mu-gill-uh) Rhymes with, hmmmm, megillah. A long story. Example. “Stop your megillah. What’s the bottom line?”
  
  Application: Give the bottom line of your story, or point, first. Then support and illustrate your thesis with as much of your long story as necessary.
  
  
• Plotz. (plotz) Rhymes with “pots.” To collapse or explode from aggravation or outrage. Example: “When I told my manager I wanted to transfer, she plotzed.”
  
  Application: Practice stress management techniques and share them with staff so coping skills are developed and plotzing is minimized.
  
  
• Schmooze: (sch-mooz) verb. Rhymes with “lose.” To chat. To network. The most vital career-building tool. Example: The salesperson reported to the sales manager, “I schmoozed with everyone at the chamber lunch. And, I got six hot leads.”
  
  Application: Schmooze to build mutually beneficial relationships and exchange information. For career success, practice networking skills. Schmooze it or lose it!
  
  
• Shtick. (Sh-tick) noun. Rhymes with “pick.” A studied, overused routine. Example: The disgruntled customer said, “Every time I call for service, they give me the same shtick – ’It’s not my job.’ “
  
  Application: Review the scripts, or shtick, your sales, service reps and marketers use. Are they on automatic pilot? Give them the authority and knowledge to be flexible so they can meet the needs of the customer.
  
  
• Yenta. (Yen-ta) Rhymes with “tent-a.” A gossipy person who can do a lot of damage in an office. Example: “Don’t tell Jim in finance anything about the merger. He’s a real yenta.”
  
  Application: Confront yentas so that rumors and conflict can be nipped in the bud and discarded faster than bad pastrami.
  
  
• Zaftig. (Zaf-tig) Rhymes with “cough-big.” Plump, chubby, fat, super-sized. Example: “In the ‘90s we added too many staff and locations. We got zaftig.”
  
  Application: Keep things lean in the good times and you’ll be prepared for tough times.
  

Are Theory M and its cadre of buzzwords meshugenah (crazy)? Consider that “Chicken Soup for the Soul” and all it permutations have sold more than 80 million copies. Quick! Jump on the matzo ball and let’s roll.

Karen Susman coaches individuals and groups on presentation skills. She speaks on Humor, Life Balance, Networking and Building Community Involvement. Her guidebooks on these topics are $5 and can be ordered at www.karensusman.com. Her free e-zine offers monthly tips on presentation and other success skills. Sign up at www.karensusman.com or at karen@karensusman.com.

Published in Networking Today, September, 2003

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