We spend our lives mostly at work, and we get so comfortable there that we tend to act and speak like family does and even use jargon to communicate with each other.
What is Corporate Jargon?
Corporate jargon is a cringe-worthy business buzzword that is used to fit into corporate culture and stay aligned with office norms.
Leon Prieto, a scholar and professor of management at Clayton State University, told BBC that much of today's corporate jargon has its roots in the military. Corporate jargon emerged as a byproduct of the integration of military veterans into the American business world after World War II. These veterans not only brought specialized skills but also their military vocabulary, which, rooted in discipline and strategic thinking, aligned well with the rapidly evolving corporate environment during the post-war economic boom.
The language that was once used to bring the precision, efficiency, and seriousness of military operations into thecorporate culture has now become common in corporate discussions.
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Even Elon Musk Finds Corporate Jargon Annoying, Too
Who else does not have their pet peeves at work? This is the same with Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who finds office jargon and acronyms to be a particular annoyance at work.
As Verdict reported, Musk's disdain for workplace jargon is well-known. He even made headlines in 2010 when he sent a nearly 300-word email to all SpaceX staff with the subject line "Acronyms Seriously Suck," where he expressed his strong dislike for acronyms.
Musk highlighted that no one can truly remember all these acronyms. People often do not want to appear dumb in meetings, so they just stay silent.
According to Musk, acronyms often take longer to say than the original phrases, undermining their very main purpose. Other criticisms of corporate jargon include its potential to be sexist, its lack of trustworthiness, and its association with meaningless work. Above all else, workplace jargon is just merely annoying and unnecessary.
What are The Downsides of Such Jargon?
According to Preply's survey of over 1,000 Canadians conducted between October 26 and 31, 2023, some Canadians believe that using business jargon helps them understand others (22%) and makes the speaker appear knowledgeable (21%).
At a time when many workplaces are aiming for greater diversity and inclusion, jargon tends to create the opposite effect, establishing in-groups of individuals familiar with the language while excluding those who are not, which can significantly limit opportunities for advancement.
Among younger workers, about half of Generation Z and Millennials also reported feeling left out at work. They often use words they do not fully understand just to fit in, making communication frustrating for everyone, Alberta reports.
Clear communication is one of the nine essential skills for success in the modern workplace, which is why it is important to use words that clarify rather than confuse.
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