What it actually means
I'm not dealing with this now and statistically never will.
Surface meaning: To return to a topic at an unspecified later time.
If someone just said “Circle Back” in a meeting, here is what they probably meant, what to do about it, and how to keep your sanity.
In the wild
Manager: Good question. Let's circle back to that.
(Six months pass. No one circles back.)
How to respond
Note the date. In four weeks, follow up in writing: 'Per the [date] meeting, where did we land on X?' The rediscovery is glorious.
Origin
Sales jargon from the 1990s, ported to tech in the 2010s. Originally meant calling a cold prospect back.
FAQ
What does "Circle Back" actually mean?
I'm not dealing with this now and statistically never will.
Where did the phrase "Circle Back" come from?
Sales jargon from the 1990s, ported to tech in the 2010s. Originally meant calling a cold prospect back.
How should I respond when someone says "Circle Back"?
Note the date. In four weeks, follow up in writing: 'Per the [date] meeting, where did we land on X?' The rediscovery is glorious.
Related corporate vocabulary
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 →