If someone tells me they will circle back to touch base about making sure we are on the same page to take a deep dive to use disruptive innovation to leverage the synergy of the team to grab the low hanging fruit to bring about a paradigm shift to move the needle towards a win-win solution I just stop listening. It’s an absurd statement full of jargon but unfortunately it’s not that far removed from many of the statements we hear daily.
Just stop and say what you mean in clear language without jargon!
Why? Because there are a lot of issues with using jargon in professional settings, such as:
- Lack of Clarity: Using jargon can make communication unclear for people who are not familiar with the terms. They have no idea of what you are talking about and may not feel confident enough to ask for clarification or explanation.
- Exclusion: It can create a sense of exclusion among team members or people who aren’t “in the know”. You are either part of the clique that uses it or you are an outsider. Not a great way to build cohesive teams or organisations. In client-facing roles, using jargon can alienate potential customers who find the language inaccessible.
- Miscommunication: There’s a risk that the message may be misinterpreted if jargon is used ambiguously. I once knew a person who kept using a particular word in the wrong way. So not only was he attempting to sound smart using jargon to confuse people, he wasn’t using in the right way. But most people just nodded their head as if they understood what he was saying.
- Inefficiency: Time can be wasted explaining jargon, which slows down the flow of information.
- Perceived Pretentiousness: Excessive use of jargon can come off as pretentious or as an attempt to sound more knowledgeable than you actually are.
- Global Communication: Jargon may not translate well across cultures or languages, complicating international business. I have been in many international meetings where participants have asked for clarification about not only jargon, but also local expressions – and I once had to spend 10 minutes explaining to a multi cultural group what the expression “flying by the seat of your pants” meant (message me if you don’t know).
- Overcomplication: Simple ideas can seem more complex than they are, which might lead to unnecessary confusion or stress. Just communicate simply!
- Unreliable Perceptions: People might use jargon to mask a lack of real understanding or to sidestep questions, which can erode trust. I met a project manager earlier this year who used this strategy to try and hide the fact his project was in deep trouble.
To help you out here’s a list of some common professional office jargon that you have probably heard today or at least this week. I’ve added a simpler way to express the same ideas:
- Synergy – Try saying this instead: Teamwork or collaboration
- Leverage – Try saying this instead: Use
- Paradigm Shift – Try saying this instead: Fundamental change
- Low-Hanging Fruit – Try saying this instead: Easy tasks
- Touch Base – Try saying this instead: Check in or update
- Take It Offline – Try saying this instead: Discuss later, not here
- Circle Back – Try saying this instead: Follow up
- Deep Dive – Try saying this instead: Detailed analysis
- Bandwidth – Try saying this instead: Time or resources
- Move the Needle – Try saying this instead: Make a difference
- Win-Win Situation – Try saying this instead: Both sides benefit
- Value-Added – Try saying this instead: Extra features or benefits
- Boil the Ocean – Try saying this instead: Wasting time on too big a task
- On the Same Page – Try saying this instead: Agree or understand
- Pivot – Try saying this instead: Change direction or strategy
- Think Outside the Box – Try saying this instead: Be creative
- Game Changer – Try saying this instead: Something that makes a big impact
- Scaling – Try saying this instead: Growing or expanding
- At the End of the Day – Try saying this instead: Ultimately or finally
- Disruptive Innovation – Try saying this instead: New idea that changes the market
- Lean Into – Try saying this instead: Embrace or focus on
What have I missed; I am sure there are many more? Anyway, just be a better communicator by avoiding jargon!
