Business Jargon Translated: How to Cut Through the Babble in 2023
If you‘ve spent time in the corporate world, you‘ve likely been on the receiving end of business jargon. From "synergy" to "ideation" to "circle back", the business world is chock-full of buzzwords and phrases that often obscure meaning rather than clarify it.
While some jargon does serve a purpose, more often than not it acts as a barrier to effective communication. It can alienate people, create confusion, and ultimately harm productivity.
In this post, we‘ll take a closer look at the world of business babble. We‘ll dissect some of the most common offenders, examine the reasons behind rampant jargon use, and most importantly, provide you with the "translations" you need to communicate in plain, direct language.
The Psychology of Business Babble
Before diving into specific examples, it‘s worth taking a moment to examine why business jargon is so pervasive. What compels professionals to pepper their language with "innovation", "learnings", and "best of breed" rather than speaking plainly?
There are a few key factors at play:
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Desire to impress. Using insider lingo can make the speaker feel important and knowledgeable.
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Fear of being direct. Jargon can serve as a "security blanket", allowing the speaker to talk around an issue rather than addressing it head-on. It provides an element of plausible deniability.
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Tribal affiliation. Adopting the jargon of your industry or company can signal that you‘re part of the "in-group" and establish credibility.
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Lack of understanding. In some cases, people latching onto jargon may not fully understand the concepts they‘re discussing. The jargon acts as a smokescreen.
While the motivations behind jargon are understandable on some level, that doesn‘t change the fact that it frequently does more harm than good. With that in mind, let‘s take a look at some of the biggest categories of business babble and how to translate them.
Corporate-Speak Decoded
Corporate jargon tends to pop up most in meetings, memos, and official company communication. Here are some of the most notorious examples and how to translate them to plain language:
Move the needle
Translation: Make progress, have an impact
"We need ideas for how to move the needle on sales this quarter."
"We need ideas for increasing sales this quarter."
Synergy
Translation: Cooperation, collaboration
"By integrating our teams, we can create synergy."
"By integrating our teams, we can collaborate more effectively."
Leverage
Translation: Use
"Let‘s leverage our existing customer base to drive referrals."
"Let‘s use our existing customer base to drive referrals."
Low-hanging fruit
Translation: Easy tasks/opportunities
"To build momentum, let‘s start with the low-hanging fruit."
"To build momentum, let‘s start with the easiest opportunities."
Think outside the box
Translation: Think creatively
"We need to think outside the box to solve this problem."
"We need to think creatively to solve this problem."
The Marketing & Sales Spin Zone
Marketing and sales professionals are often the worst offenders when it comes to jargon. After all, the temptation to disguise the ordinary with flashy language is strong when your job is promotion and persuasion. Here are some classic examples:
Ideate
Translation: Come up with ideas
"Let‘s schedule a meeting to ideate solutions."
"Let‘s schedule a meeting to come up with solutions."
Drill down
Translation: Examine in detail
"We need to drill down into the data to understand the issue."
"We need to examine the data closely to understand the issue."
Omnichannel
Translation: Many channels
"Our omnichannel approach will improve the customer experience."
"Using multiple channels will improve the customer experience."
Growth hacking
Translation: Aggressive growth strategies
"With the right growth hacking techniques, we can scale quickly."
"With the right aggressive growth strategies, we can scale quickly."
Disruption
Translation: Innovation, shaking up the status quo
"Our product is poised to be a major disruption in the industry."
"Our product is poised to significantly change the industry status quo."
Tech Talk Translated
The tech industry is a hotbed of jargon, with new buzzwords seemingly emerging every week. Here are some that have entered the mainstream business lexicon:
Bleeding edge
Translation: Experimental or untested
"Adopting this bleeding edge tech is risky but could pay off."
"Adopting this experimental tech is risky but could pay off."
The Cloud
Translation: Servers accessed via the internet
"We‘re migrating our infrastructure to the cloud."
"We‘re migrating our infrastructure to internet-based servers."
Big data
Translation: Large, complex data sets
"Harnessing big data is key to unlocking insights."
"Analyzing large, complex data sets is key to unlocking insights."
The Internet of Things (IoT)
Translation: Internet-connected devices
"The Internet of Things will revolutionize industry."
"Internet-connected devices will revolutionize industry."
Agile
Translation: Flexible, iterative, incremental approach
"We‘re adopting an agile approach to development."
"We‘re adopting a flexible, iterative approach to development."
Cutting the Jargon from Your Communication
Now that we‘ve covered some of the most egregious examples of business babble, let‘s talk about how you can eliminate jargon from your own communication. Herearea few key tips:
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When in doubt, use the simplest language possible. If a 5th grader wouldn‘t understand the term or phrase, look for an alternative.
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Before using jargon, ask yourself: "Does this actually add clarity or meaning, or am I just trying to sound impressive?" Be honest!
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If you‘re not 100% sure what a piece of jargon means, don‘t use it. Using terms incorrectly will only undermine your credibility.
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Pay attention to your audience. If you‘re communicating with people outside your department or industry, be especially mindful of using accessible language.
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Don‘t be afraid to ask for clarification if someone else is using jargon you don‘t understand. A simple "Can you elaborate on that?" can go a long way.
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Proofread your writing with a critical eye and ruthlessly eliminate any unnecessary jargon. Ask yourself if each word and phrase is truly adding value.
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Practice active listening in meetings and conversations. Take note of any jargon being used and consider whether it‘s helping or hindering communication.
By following these guidelines and making a conscious effort to avoid jargon, you‘ll soon find your communication becoming clearer and more impactful. You may even inspire others to follow suit!
The Benefits of Jargon-Free Communication
While adopting jargon-free communication may feel unnatural at first – especially if you‘ve grown accustomed to peppering your language with buzzwords – it‘s a change well worth making. Here are just a few of the many benefits:
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Greater clarity and understanding. By using direct, plain language, you ensure your message is clearly understood by all. Jargon creates unnecessary hurdles.
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Increased trust and credibility. Using jargon can make you appear insecure or out-of-touch. Confident, competent professionals don‘t feel the need to hide behind buzzwords.
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Enhanced collaboration. When everyone is speaking the same clear, jargon-free language, teamwork and cooperation become much easier. There‘s less room for misinterpretation.
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Improved productivity. Less time spent decoding jargon means more time for meaningful work. Clear communication is efficient communication.
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Greater inclusivity. Jargon can be alienating to those who aren‘t "in the know". By using language that everyone can engage with, you foster a sense of belonging and value each individual.
So next time you‘re tempted to "reach out", "touch base", or "circle back", take a breath and consider how you might rephrase in plain, direct language. Your colleagues, clients, and bottom line will thank you.
Conclusion
Business babble may be widespread, but that doesn‘t mean it‘s unavoidable. By understanding the psychology behind jargon use, recognizing it when we see it, and consciously choosing clear alternatives, we can all do our part to cut through the noise.
Remember: Jargon doesn‘t make you sound smarter. More often than not, it has the opposite effect. The most effective communicators are those who can explain complex concepts in simple, relatable terms. They‘re the ones who build trust, understanding, and connection.
So let‘s commit to leaving the "synergistic ideation" and "bleeding edge disruption" in the past. Your clients, colleagues, and bottom line will thank you. Here‘s to a future of communication that‘s clear, direct, and buzzword-free!
