Everyday Office Jargon · Vice President level

"Dangle the carrot"

"Dangle the carrot" means to motivate someone by offering a reward or incentive just out of reach, keeping them working toward it.

Say this instead: offer an incentive

How "Dangle the carrot" shows up at work

Animal husbandry vocabulary that found a comfortable home in sales and management conversations. Usually appears when the reward being offered is a commission, a promotion, or a future conversation that may never happen.

Buzzword

Management is dangling the carrot of a title bump to keep the team focused through the quarter.

Plain English

Management is offering a title bump as an incentive to keep the team focused through the quarter.

Corporate Rank: Vice President · Category: Everyday Office Jargon

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