Corporate Vocabulary Field Guide

What “Cadence” Actually Means

The regular rhythm or frequency of a meeting, report, or process.

What it actually means
How often do you want me to be unable to focus?
Surface meaning: The regular rhythm or frequency of a meeting, report, or process.
If someone just said “Cadence” in a meeting, here is what they probably meant, what to do about it, and how to keep your sanity.
In the wild
Manager: Let's establish a weekly cadence. (Three weeks later: weekly cadence has weeks where nothing has happened.)
How to respond

Tie cadence to a deliverable. 'Weekly cadence means a weekly written update by Thursday.' Cadence without deliverable is just a recurring calendar block.

Origin

Musical term for rhythm. Survived because business needed a fancy word for 'how often'.

FAQ
What does "Cadence" actually mean?
How often do you want me to be unable to focus?
Where did the phrase "Cadence" come from?
Musical term for rhythm. Survived because business needed a fancy word for 'how often'.
How should I respond when someone says "Cadence"?
Tie cadence to a deliverable. 'Weekly cadence means a weekly written update by Thursday.' Cadence without deliverable is just a recurring calendar block.
Related corporate vocabulary
Sync Up→Bandwidth→Cycles→Action Item→Close the Loop→

This was, of course, a meeting that should have been an email.

Run the fake meeting simulator. Generate a bingo card. Be busy without being there.

Open the simulator →
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