counterproductive

Vocabulary Word

Definition

'Counterproductive' is a fancy way of saying 'doing more harm than good.' It's when an action gives you results opposite to what you were aiming for.

Examples in Different Contexts

In social change initiatives, applying pressure without providing support can be counterproductive, potentially causing resistance instead of fostering positive change.

Practice Scenarios

Impact

Scenario:

Collecting waste with plastic bags doesn't seem right. There must be a more sustainable way to carry out this process.

Response:

Using plastic bags itself seems counterproductive to our goal of reducing plastic waste. We should find an alternative method.

Business

Scenario:

Our marketing costs have skyrocketed this quarter, but our sales aren't matching the growth rate.

Response:

Could it be that our marketing strategy has been counterproductive by costing more than it generates?