This week I read an article in the New York Times that made me laugh. In the article Marilyn Katzman – a communication expert- discusses the use of jargon and clichés in the workplace.

I especially like this part:

My efforts to look intelligent – OK, my bluffs – were only to continue. I learned fairly quickly that if I used the word “strategy” often enough, I’d be viewed favorably. Would I appear to be more intelligent and in the know if I threw “transparency” into the conversation?

Jargon at work. Don’t we all use it?

Jargon makes communication simpler.

It is so much simpler to say to someone “Let’s email this to all employees.” than to say “Let’s use the system of sending messages by electronic means from one computer to another to communicate this to all employees.”

Jargon – without doubt – we need it.

But it also has downsides. Let’s look into those.

1. Jargon excludes

In last week’s featured article about respect in the workplace I noted that jargon-laden talk can be disrespectful. It can exclude people not familiar with the jargon.  By the way, here is a link if you have missed last week’s article:

2. Jargon can conceal one’s ignorance and to fit into a group’s norms
In her article Marilyn Katzman shows an example of using jargon to look more intelligent and to be accepted.

We use jargon to conceal and fit in. If, for example, someone says, “We need to hit the ground running”, most people would nod their head in agreement. It sounds pretty good but what the heck does this person mean by that?

3. Jargon impacts conveying
Empty phases like brainstorm, kept in the loop, core competencies, or circle back can be used as time-savers. They state something quickly. And we think that we don’t have to check if our message has been conveyed.

You might think.

Why is this important?

Don’t we all sometimes want to look intelligent and impress others?

Don’t we all sometimes exclude and if it speeds up the conversation, isn’t that worth it?

No, it isn’t.

Jargon obscures how truthful assertions, in fact, are.

Jochem Hansen and Michaela Wanke studied the impact of concrete language on judgments of truth. They found that the same written content was more likely to be judged as true written in concrete rather than in abstract or jargon-laden language.

So, this week in your workplace look for use of  “empty”, terms such as:

– Core-competency

– Touch base

– One-sheet

– Thinking outside the box

– Kept in the loop

– Deliverable

– Paradigm shift

– Helicopter view

– Action item

– Hit the ground running

– Circle back

– Take it to the next level

And next time you think “out of the box” and “touch base” with HR about “core-competencies” in order to “hit the ground running,” please do so, but don’t say it.