At work, business jargon may seem like it will make you sound knowledgeable. However, avoiding jargon and speaking simply may ultimately command more respect.
Photo by Paul Vasarhelyi (Shutterstock)
Geoffrey James of weblog Inc. James points out why overdosing on jargon can make you look bad:
Jargon (aka “biz-blab”) consists of hijacking normal words and using them in odd ways to make them sound “businessy.” Example: “We’re reaching out to our customer advocates to leverage a dialogue on….” While others who speak fluent biz-blab might not take notice or care, everyone else cringes and rolls their eyes.
Fix: Use words as they’re defined in the dictionary. Example: “We’re contacting our customers to discuss….” That way, you’ll sound more like a professional and less like a cartoon businessperson.
Don’t make a bad impression by trying to sound like you know everything — just be straightforward and to the point.
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