Using Popular Business Jargon Effectively
Glad you came by, why don’t you take a seat? We’re “circling back” to the “out-of-the-box” business phrases that may be “reinventing the wheel” a little too much -- to the point where communication is getting confusing and unclear. According to Inc.com:
- American Express OPEN just released a survey that said that 64% of Americans use jargon multiple times per week.
- They also discovered that 88% of Americans pretend to understand office jargon.
This is just a recipe for poor office communication. Sure, maybe each office space develops their own unique lingo, and people catch on fast because that is human nature. However, watch for instances where this isn’t effective, and how to deal with it:
Job Postings
One way using popular business jargon would actually be effective, is to use it to reflect your company culture. Maybe you want to make your innovative, millennial-friendly culture apparent in your job postings. If you decide to do this, please do be completely clear that you’re looking for an application who will match the application. Don’t just write a “hip” sounding job posting, hoping to attract millennials with tech jargon you’re not personally familiar with. Otherwise, how can you be sure what you’re interviewing for?
Meetings
Whether it’s millennial/slang terms or corporate jargon, managers should keep aware that everyone is on the same page, especially in important meetings. After all, if a co-worker tells another that that concept was, “blue-sky thinking”, and they don’t understand what that means, they maybe refrain from expressing their confusion -- making the situation worse. Try reiterating important details and plans as they come along. And also -- clarify any foreign lingo.
Make it your own
If anything, using corporate/office lingo isn’t a bad thing. People do sometimes enjoy this jargon because it almost connects people of similar industries through language. So if you’re the type to enjoy using cool new phrases, make it apparent and make it your thing. Make sure you colleagues know that this is your personal brand, and you’d love to explain your points clearer.
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AUG
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