Doubling Down on Business Jargon
Andy Molinsky
Organizational & Cross-Cultural Psychologist at Brandeis; 3x Book Author: Global Dexterity, Reach, Forging Bonds in a Global Workforce
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If we haven't been acquainted yet, I’m a professor of organizational and cross-cultural psychology, the author of Global Dexterity and Reach, and an HBR contributor and consultant. I also work closely with coaches, trainers, consultants and teachers to certify them in my Global Dexterity Method.
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In today’s newsletter, I’m sharing some thoughts about one of my favorite topics (to poke fun at) - business jargon.
There’s no question that making fun of business jargon is, shall we say, low hanging fruit. But is it really that bad? Is there any upsides to this unusual way of speaking?
1. Business jargon can be surprisingly efficient. I know what you’re thinking. Do you really have to say drill down when you really mean look in detail? Is it necessary to say pain point when "problem" would do just fine? Jargon can be annoying but it also can be efficient - especially if both sides speak the language fluently. For example, I was just at a meeting where someone suggested doubling down on the low hanging fruit part of our strategy. And you know what? I immediately understood what she was saying.
2. Business jargon is no worse or better than any other professional language. It's not just business people who use jargon. Everyone does. Teachers talk about growth mindsets, differentiated learning, and flipping the classroom. Academics operationalize – and sometimes, to their chagrin, reify their constructs. Consultants have limited bandwidth, and often have to work their tails off to move the needle. Cooks are in the weeds. Soldiers dream of rack time. And doctors retreat to their bunkers after one too many frequent fliers in the emergency room. Jargon is everywhere – not just in our corporate cubicles and Zoom calls.
3. Business jargon can help when you’re at a loss for words. Let’s say your boss is overburdening you with projects, and you don’t quite know how to respond. Talking about limited bandwidth and the scope of assignments might be a good way to go. You get your point across - and in a language she understands.
At the end of the day, business jargon isn’t going anywhere. So use what you can and do what feels right to you. Because at the end of the day.... that’s always best practice.
Translating Words and Culture
3yJargon exists in every field: business jargon is no different. It is the natural outcome of people working together on the same materials, in the same field. Every field has its associated vocabulary and yes, anyone new to a field or a company, will have to brush up on their jargon and adapt to a new corporate culture. It is not used in order to exclude anyone, but rather as a common "language". Having said that, one needs to be aware that jargon is not necessarily international and may not always be understood by colleagues in other countries. The term "to table a motion" or "to table an idea" is a case in point. In the UK, this phrase means to place the idea on the table for discussion, whereas in the USA it has the opposite meaning, namely to remove the suggestion/idea from the discussion , or to set it aside indefinitely. Many international firms no longer use this phrase in order to avoid confusion.
I make complex things simple & boring things interesting 💡 Creative Catalyst, Visual Facilitator & Brand Specialist for Innovation & Tech, Speaker, Semiotician, New Yorker Cartoonist
3yI usually come out AGAINST jargon -- but you make a great point that shared language can be a big timesaver and telegraph meaning fast. That's why i like using whiteboard drawings in meetings; it makes shared understanding instant. Where jargon falls down is when people hide behind it, using it to obfuscate meaning. Also, like jewelry or food at a buffet, there is such a thing as TOO much jargon piled into one sentence.
Organizational & Cross-Cultural Psychologist at Brandeis; 3x Book Author: Global Dexterity, Reach, Forging Bonds in a Global Workforce
3yVery fair points — I definitely see the exclusionary side of business/professional jargon
A data and implementation scientist with 20 years of experience in organizational climate and performance
3yBusiness jargon is another example of exclusionist practices. Brevity should not be prioritized over clear understanding by all people in the room. In a time when DEI is at the forefront, this article is really surprising.
Coaching and Training Across Cultures
3yI appreciate and have been entrenched in business jargon throughout my career. While it is indeed efficient, U.S. business jargon can present quite a mystery to remote colleagues located in or from other countries. Some jargon is rooted in culture-specific contexts, such as sports, films, etc. This, of course, is true in most cultures, but professionals from around the world often are tasked with learning not only English, but U.S. business language and related jargon.