Why Do They Use The Phrase "Reaching Out" In The Workplace?
"Why do we say 'reaching out' at work when no one's physically reaching anything? Dive into the bizarre world of corporate jargon, email etiquette, and the octopus boss we never asked for.
“Reaching out” has become a go-to phrase in the modern workplace. But no, it doesn’t involve anyone physically reaching for you.
It simply means someone is getting in touch via email, Teams, Slack, or whatever digital channel the corporate overlords have blessed your office with.
If you’ve ever worked in an office, chances are you’ve seen this phrase pop up more times than you'd care to count. But let’s be honest — is it not just a little annoying?
Imagine you're at the supermarket, and your friend walks up to you and says,
“I wanted to reach out to you and invite you out for drinks sometime.”
Imagine the look on their face. They’d probably think you’ve been possessed by a LinkedIn influencer.
Where Did It Come From?
There’s no confirmed origin story for this phrase, but one rumour stands out — and it’s almost too good not to believe.
It supposedly started in the early 2000s, in an office somewhere in Texas. Picture this: an overcrowded boardroom filled with executives and a frantic receptionist trying to get the attention of the meeting host — the CEO. She had urgent news, but there was no way to get through the wall of suits blocking the room.
So, with no other option, she physically reached out and tapped the CEO on the shoulder. He looked up, startled. She blurted out:
“I needed to reach out to you — your wife is in labour.”
And just like that, reaching out was born — pun very much intended. Since then, it's become a workplace staple.
What Does It Really Mean?
Let’s break down what people actually mean when they say they’re “reaching out”:
- “Just reaching out to see if you had a chance to look at my resume.”
→ I’ve emailed you twice. You’re ignoring me. Just read it and give me feedback. - “Reaching out with a quick question.”
→ I need something from you, and I’m disguising it as casual. - “Wanted to reach out and connect.”
→ I saw your face on LinkedIn. You look legit — even if you’re a total fraud. - “Thanks for reaching out!”
→ I’m now going to ghost you politely.
When It Gets Weird (and Annoying)
Imagine you and your team are quietly working in the office when your boss strolls over and says,
“I just wanted to reach out and thank you guys for being such a great team.”
What is this — a team meeting or an octopus attack? Are you suddenly going to reach out your tentacles and give everyone a congratulatory pat on the back?
Seriously, just say thank you. We’ll cope.
Takeaway (And a Gentle Tap on the Shoulder)
We’re all guilty of using “reaching out.” It slips into our emails like a sneaky little buzzword ninja. But maybe — just maybe — it’s time to retire it in favour of something a little more… human.
Try:
- “Hey, following up.”
- “Hi, checking in on this.”
- “Hello, where is the thing, please and thanks.”
Or if you’re really done with it all:
“Send file. Hungry. Need now.”
Until then, I’ll be here — not reaching out — just loudly existing in your inbox, wondering when we all agreed to communicate like overly polite robots.
Got a story or some cringe-worthy jargon to share?
