Q) Is “stepping up to the plate” the same thing as “getting on board?” I’ve asked around. Some of my colleagues say yes and some say no, and since my boss says them both to me a lot I feel I need to know if there’s a difference.
A) The admonition to “Step up to the plate!” is usually given to workers as a challenge to improve their performance – to come in earlier, stay later, dot more I’s, cross more T’s, and maximize more synergies.
On the other hand, workers told to “Get on board!” are being told they’re not team players. This admonition is usually given to workers who don’t agree with everything the boss says.
Since you’ve been told to “Get on board” and “Step up to the plate,” the situation looks grim. You are apparently a worker who needs to do better and also realize that the boss is always right.
Your solution is to focus on one of the two areas, and do so quickly: Your best bet is to get on board. This is relatively easy, since it’s mainly a matter of nodding whenever the boss is talking. Stepping up to the plate would take considerably more effort, including working harder.
Once you’re on board, the boss will be less likely to cut you loose, even if you don’t step up to the plate.
Dr. Miles Miller, holds a PhD in managerial logistics from Fordham University, where he has served on the faculty since 1978, specializing in pre-conceptual nuances.
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