Partner Article

Eradicate jargon in your business dealings

Despite the fact that they’re usually borne from the best of intentions, to help foster optimism or allude to best working practice and protocol, a study we’ve just wrapped up confirms that jargon (a collection of confusing terms widely used in business) is an unwelcome, although ever-present part of the great British workplace.

79 per cent of UK professionals that we polled were reluctant to work alongside those who depend on jargon in conversation or emails. What’s more, 38 per cent of those with access to a phone are reluctant to answer it if they’re likely to be confused by technical phrases that they don’t understand.

Most commonly experienced in a boardroom –62 per cent of the people we polled believe they’re most likely to be hit with confusing terminology in a business meeting – the most loathed phrases include ‘blue sky thinking’, the chief offender, closely followed by ‘touch base.’

To those of us who often find ourselves using ‘taking it offline’ or ‘end of play,’ it can be a habit.

What speakers need to remember is that it’s a habit worth breaking; this terminology can hamper communication, rather than make it more efficient. A staggering 74 per cent of the people we asked didn’t understand the most common pieces of jargon and 33 per cent felt that they were only really used as part of an attempt to impress.

Here are a few ideas worth considering ahead of a meeting or conference call:

• Make a note of any term you might use on a regular basis. Even if it’s not especially technical or business focused, a cliché can be just as uninspiring or meaningless; they’re often used as some sort of ‘catch all term’ which is meant to explain everything but, really, says nothing. Challenge yourself and try and replace the term with something else the next time you feel impelled to use it.
• The people who answered our poll are your audience, and it’s your audience that truly determine what ‘annoying jargon’ is, based on what they’re subjected to. Overuse of terms that leave your colleagues feeling disengaged and uninterested is the first sign that you’re losing touch with the company culture. Spend more time with the wider team socially or just in the office to help develop new, shared reference points to draw upon, instead of ubiquitous jargon.
• Always try to use an analogy, or reference an example rather than use anything you think might be considered jargon. Being able to cite case history or another, similar scenario will do infinitely more to demonstrate your intelligence.
• The risk with overuse of jargon is that it confuses communication and can lead to misunderstanding, as well as general annoyance. Don’t be afraid to ask for frank and honest feedback or even ask meeting attendees to outline their understanding of what you’ve just said. You might be surprised.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Curry .