Corporate Vocabulary Field Guide

What “Deep Dive” Actually Means

An extended, detailed examination of a topic, typically a 30 to 60 minute meeting.

What it actually means
I want a long meeting to feel productive about a thing I haven't read about yet.
Surface meaning: An extended, detailed examination of a topic, typically a 30 to 60 minute meeting.
If someone just said “Deep Dive” in a meeting, here is what they probably meant, what to do about it, and how to keep your sanity.
In the wild
Director: Let's schedule a deep dive next week. (Deep dive ends. No one is wetter for it.)
How to respond

Insist on a pre-read. 'Happy to do the deep dive. Can you share the doc 24 hours before so we go in deep?' The doc is what they were avoiding.

Origin

Diving terminology, popularized by McKinsey-style consulting in the 2000s.

FAQ
What does "Deep Dive" actually mean?
I want a long meeting to feel productive about a thing I haven't read about yet.
Where did the phrase "Deep Dive" come from?
Diving terminology, popularized by McKinsey-style consulting in the 2000s.
How should I respond when someone says "Deep Dive"?
Insist on a pre-read. 'Happy to do the deep dive. Can you share the doc 24 hours before so we go in deep?' The doc is what they were avoiding.
Related corporate vocabulary
Drill Down→Double-Click→In the Weeds→30,000-Foot View→Blue-Sky Thinking→

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.

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