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Define: "Run it up the flagpole" in Business
Fiscal Threat Level
HIGH
Multi-headcount capital waste
CWO Pro-Tip
"Asking a VP for permission to do basic IT tasks. Expect a denial."
What HR thinks it means:
To test an idea to see what the reaction will be.
What does "Run it up the flagpole" actually mean?
"Let's ask the boss, who will inevitably say no."
How HR uses it:
"I will run this proposal up the flagpole to see if the executive team supports it."
How you actually use it:
"I'll run the budget request for new switches up the flagpole, but I fully expect the CFO to shoot it down with a bazooka."
By The Chief Waste Officer
18 years in the corporate trenches quantifying waste so you don't have to.
Published: 2026-03-01
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Tired of hearing this?
Next time someone says "Run it up the flagpole" in a meeting, track exactly how much company money they just wasted. Play Buzzword Bingo, generate a waste invoice, and stop the bleeding.
