credibility

Definition

That precious, easily-destroyed quality of being believed and trusted—built slowly through consistency and destroyed instantly through one scandal or mishap.

Example Usage

The executive's credibility evaporated after the email leak revealed he'd been saying opposite things to different departments.

Source: Common business terminology

Related Terms

Intermediate

boomerang

When something returns to bite you in ways you didn't anticipate, usually referring to strategies, policies, or decisions that backfire spectacularly. In HR and employment, it's also an employee who left the company only to return later, often for more money. The corporate equivalent of "I told you so" in physical form.

💼 Corporate / Business

Intermediate

shareholder value

The value delivered to company owners through dividends, stock price appreciation, and overall business performance. The metric that justifies every controversial business decision since the 1980s.

💼 Corporate / Business

Beginner

afaik

Acronym for 'As Far As I Know,' the professional cousin of 'iirc' that people use in work emails to avoid full accountability. It's how you share information while simultaneously building a legal escape hatch for when that information turns out to be completely wrong. Corporate CYA at its finest.

💼 Corporate / Business

Beginner

milestone

A corporate checkpoint that marks significant progress on a project, usually celebrated with great fanfare and questionable catered sandwiches. Milestones break down intimidating projects into manageable chunks, giving teams something to celebrate before the next crisis hits. They're also convenient scapegoats when things go wrong—'We were on track until milestone three!'

💼 Corporate / Business

Beginner

high-level overview

A deliberately vague summary that omits all useful details, typically because the speaker doesn't know them or hopes you won't ask follow-up questions. The executive version of 'I didn't do the reading.'

💼 Corporate / Business

Beginner

edge

That mythical competitive advantage every business claims to have but few can actually articulate without resorting to buzzwords. In corporate speak, it's whatever supposedly sets you apart from competitors—better technology, unique expertise, or more commonly, better marketing. The thing venture capitalists ask about in pitch meetings while secretly checking their phones.

💼 Corporate / Business

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Intermediate

shareholder value

The value delivered to company owners through dividends, stock price appreciation, and overall business performance. The...