I don’t tolerate BS, I can’t stand listening to cliches, but if there is one thing that drives me bonkers, it’s business jargon.
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I’ve worked in a corporate environment for the better part of five years now. I don’t mind the culture, but if there is one thing that makes me cringe, it’s businness jargon.
You know what I am talking about, the cliche, nonsensical, lingo executives and recruiters like to spew. Here are some that might sound familiar:
Upward mobility – If my career potential is based on a two-dimensional axis, why would I ever want to follow the y-axis like everyone else? I want to take a short trip down the x-axis before exponentially making my way up (#mathjoke).
Rewarding – If by rewarding you mean I get a paycheck and a work-life balance that allows me to do the things I find rewarding, then yes I’m on board. But for most places, the work itself isn’t rewarding.
Exciting opportunity – Overused.
It is what it is/It’s how we’ve always done it – No it is not. We are humans – if we don’t like what it is we find a solution to make it better!
Giving 110% – That’s impossible. At best you’ll get 73%. People need their rest.
Vertical – Again with the directional metaphors!
Core Values – People have values, corporations do not.
“You know what I am talking about, the cliche, nonsensical, lingo executives and recruiters like to…
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What’s the Big Deal?
For some professionals, business jargon acts as a safety net or a shield to hide behind. In the end, these phrases act as fluff, they carry no meaning and communicate nothing. Always be on the lookout for these red flags because they signal somebody doesn’t know what they are talking about.
Even worse, if you find yourself using these phrases it might be time to question your effort. Is your heart really into the work? Or are you using business jargon to just get by?
Use Your Own Voice
Last month I had my mid-year review with my manager (I know, our mid-years were a bit behind this year). My manager informed me that he likes how blatant and honest I am. If I make a mistake, I tell him I messed up. If I do something good, I make sure he knows about it.
If you want to break away from business jargon, here are three tips I can offer:
- Use your authentic voice to stand out (I will be writing more about this in the near future)
- Don’t only tell people what they want to hear
- Be honest
You can continue to use business jargon, but I guarantee others won’t notice you.
But if you do decide to use your own voice, you’ll stand out. Your ideas will be more concrete. You’ll offer a fresh perspective on things.
Give it a try, it’s an exciting opportunity.
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Discussion Question: What’s your least favorite business jargon? Share your thoughts on Twitter or in the comments.
The post Avoid Business Jargon and Use Your Authentic Voice Instead by Declan Wilson appeared first on A Millennial Type.