A peculiar phenomenon is unfolding in the corporate jungle's dense underbrush. It's not a rare tropical bird but something much more familiar to our office habitats: the rampant use of corporate jargon. Yes, you heard it right—our workplaces are turning into a verbal safari, where phrases like "synergize the bandwidth" and "leverage the low-hanging fruit" frolic freely in their natural habitat.
Sound familiar? Welcome to the meeting room, where words sometimes loop like a broken record, not because of a neurological hiccup but because it's just the way we talk around here! But hold your horses—or should we say, "put a pin in that thought"—because this isn't just about throwing around fancy terms.
We're witnessing the rise of corporate verbigeration, a niche term that needs its own PowerPoint slide.
What's that, you ask?
Well, verbigeration is an actual dictionary word used to denote a psychological phenomenon where a person engages in almost compulsive and involuntary repetition of words or phrases. As a clinical diagnosis, verbigeration denotes a thought pattern and a lack of control over one's speech.
As for my usage of the phrase, I am using “corporate verbigeration” to refer to the overused jargon at work, where professionals compulsively use words and terms that, on the surface, sound profound but, in fact, communicate very little and contribute to the confusion and disorganization in communication.
Remember the last meeting you sat through, nodding as someone masterfully navigated the corporate lexicon, leaving you impressed, confused, and slightly dizzy? That, my friend- is CORPORATE VERBIGERATION - the art of filling the air with words, creating an impressive fog of jargon, but when the mist clears, you realize you're still at square one, none the wiser about the actual plan or idea.
Please humor me for a minute. Below is a script I have developed where I have highlighted jargon that I have heard commonly used in my own working experience :)
The Art of Saying Much Without Saying Anything
Background: Imagine a spacious conference room with a large table. The leader, Alex (they/them), stands at the head of the table, addressing five team members.
Start of meeting
Alex: Good morning, team. Let’s dive right in. We're on the bleeding edge of launching our new software. I need all hands on deck to bake in the latest security features. Now, I’ve got a lot of balls in the air, and bandwidth can be an issue. But this project is a game changer – a real silver bullet. It is time for laser focus to make hay while the sun shines. Let's trim the fat where necessary and ensure our approach is lean as we lead to the beta-testing phase. Bring your A-Game to the table, people. The deliverables deadline is a hard stop. We have some headwinds, like the server issue—total dumpster fire—but we've managed to pivot and stay on track. Let’s not reinvent the wheel; instead, focus on the low-hanging fruit that can get us quick wins and move the needle. Jenna, your team's creativity in blue sky thinking can bring the paradigm shift I seek to push the envelope further. I want you all to brainstorm some out-of-the-box ideas and pain points and send me the brain dump tomorrow. At the end of the week, I will reevaluate for a stand-up to run up the flagpole for any new ideas.
Jenna: I am very concerned about the security feature.
Alex: Good point, Jenna. But let's not boil the ocean here. We can't afford any herding cats situation, so everyone needs to be on board right now. Remember, we're not just clock watchers here; we're innovators.
Lastly, I want to acknowledge everyone's hard work. We're not just touching base here; you're all crushing it. Let's get this show on the road!
End of meeting.
Where did corporate jargon come from?
The history and purpose of corporate jargon are intertwined with the evolution of the corporate culture itself. Jargon, in general, refers to the specialized language used by a particular group or profession. Every field has its own jargon, serving as a shorthand for complex concepts. For those of you curious about its history – here is a brief overview of the evolution of jargon.
Industrial Revolution and Growth of Corporations: As businesses grew and became more complex during and after the Industrial Revolution, there was a need for a language that could encapsulate new and complex business concepts succinctly.
Management Science and Consultancy: The rise of management science in the 20th century, with figures like Peter Drucker and the growth of consultancy firms like McKinsey & Company, brought a new language. This language aimed to provide frameworks and strategies for business operations and to communicate these concepts in a universally understandable way within the corporate sphere.
Technological Advancement: With the advent of the Information Age and the rise of the tech industry, new terminologies emerged to describe novel technologies and processes. These terms quickly made their way into the broader corporate lexicon.
Globalization: As corporations expanded globally, there was a need for a common language to ensure clarity and consistency across diverse geographical locations and cultures. Corporate jargon served as this lingua franca, bridging communication gaps and aligning various parts of the organization.
Original Purpose of Corporate Jargon
Broadly, jargon evolved to serve two primary purposes:
Professional Identity & Branding: Using specialized language helps professionals identify as part of a group. It can create a sense of belonging and exclusivity, distinguishing those 'in the know' within the corporate circle. Corporate jargon reinforces the culture of an organization. It reflects and promotes the corporate environment's values, priorities, and norms. Businesses often use jargon in their marketing materials to appear current, professional, and in line with industry trends. This can help position the brand strategically in the market.
Efficiency & Precision: Corporate jargon is often used intentionally. It's a learned language specific to business, used to succinctly convey complex ideas. Terms like "ROI" (Return on Investment) encapsulate broader concepts that can be communicated quickly and understood universally within the business community.
Has the original purpose faded away over time?
The above-mentioned original reasons for the evolution and development of corporate jargon seem reasonable. However, the current use of jargon at work may serve other not-so-effective and desirable purposes.
Concealing Complexity
Jargons are often used to mask a subject’s simplicity or complexity. They are often used to make something sound more impressive or to obfuscate the need for more depth or understanding. We're in a realm where complexity is cloaked in a sleek suit of verbiage, and simplicity is often lost, probably stuck in a "parking lot" somewhere, waiting for the next "touchpoint." Jargon is also exclusionary because it often obscures the underlying message, leaving room for misinterpretation and confusion. It serves as a veil of vagueness, masking the true essence of communication to convey clear and concise meaning.
Power and Authority
Jargons are often used to impress or even intimidate. They can signal expertise or authority on a subject, making the speaker seem more knowledgeable or in control, undermining the voice of others, or not allowing other voices to surface. Beneath the allure of sounding professional and informed, this cryptic lexicon often acts more as a smokescreen, concealing reality rather than elucidating it.
Exclusionary
Jargon is also used to create barriers, intentionally or unintentionally excluding those not privy to the specific language of a particular business or industry. Corporate jargon often suggests that the matters must be more complex for plain language. This illusion can intimidate and alienate team members, clients, and stakeholders who might need to become more complex and familiar with the terminology. Instead of fostering an inclusive environment, it builds walls. The use of complicated jargon can lead to a disconnect, as the focus shifts from the actual issue to the perplexing language used to describe it.
As a cultural artifact of the corporate world, jargon is often overused to the point where it loses meaning and becomes counterproductive to clear communication. Professionals have been socialized in many ways on how to speak a lot, mean a little, and sound profound. And the best part? It's unintentional. We've learned this language, a complex dance of terms and phrases, each more bewildering than the last, and we perform it daily with the grace of a seasoned dancer, often not realizing that we might just be stepping on our own toes.
Let's Talk Straight
So, what's our way out of this wordy mess? Simple talk, friends. It's time to cut down on the fancy words and speak clearly. Let's focus on being brief and to the point in our meetings. Remember, the best ideas are usually the simplest and don't need fancy words. The business world is full of complicated jargon, but it doesn't have to be that way. We need to watch out for the trap of overcomplicating our words. The best way to really get our point across is to keep things clear and simple.
Why Clear Talk Matters
We all need to get better at speaking simply. When we talk clearly and directly, everyone immediately understands what we mean. This makes things smoother and more productive, as we're all on the same page. For example, if Alex says, "Push the envelope further" or "Move the needle," he should explain clearly what that means. How should the team act, give updates, learn, and what should be the top priorities?
The Value of Keeping It Simple
Speaking simply doesn't mean you're not smart. It actually shows you respect the person you're talking to. It's about getting to the point without extra fluff. This builds trust and openness; everyone can see you're not hiding behind big words. If Alex says, "Let’s not boil the ocean here," he should explain what he really means. Is he not worried about the security feature, does he have a solution, or is he suggesting we overlook a problem?
Next time you think about using a big word like "utilize" instead of "use" or "facilitate" instead of "help," stop and think. Are we really getting our message across, or are we just talking in circles?
Conclusion. Let's straighten things out (and that's the last fancy phrase, promise!). We should aim for clarity and simplicity, and maybe then we can escape the jungle of jargon. Speaking clearly isn't just a nice thing to do; it's crucial for real understanding and teamwork at work. In the end, when it comes to good communication, keeping it simple isn't just good; it's essential.