Jargon is trouble.
When we use unnecessarily cryptic or complicated language, we promote misunderstanding. We make fuzzy concepts sound official and clear by hiding them behind fancy words. We put up roadblocks that discourage new people, and new ideas, from joining the conversation.
When our words mean something to us, it's hard to understand how little they might mean to others.
Chip & Dan Heath talk about this as the "curse of knowledge." They cite Elizabeth Newton's experiment at Stanford, which you can try yourself: Tap out the rhythm of a familiar song and ask someone to identify it. You're likely to wildly overestimate how successful they'll be. While the melody of Happy Birthday is crystal clear in your own head, those taps might just as well be The Star-Spangled Banner to them.
Can you kill it?
So what do we do? Can we vanquish this evil from our corporate vocabulary? Maybe put out the jargon equivalent of a swear jar to help your team break the dirty habit?
You can try!
But any attempt to police how people use language can end up reinforcing power rather than promoting clarity. Who will get called out for using language improperly? Whose credibility, confidence, or access to opportunity will take a hit when this happens?
Jargon is trouble, but it's also a fascinating example of how nimble language can be. It provides clues about who is influencing who and how ideas are spreading. It signals group belonging. And it's probably inevitable. A naturally occurring, occasionally poetic, byproduct of coordinated human activity.
There's certainly a time and place for specialized terms and technical vocabulary. And sometimes, used responsibly, even dodgy business jargon can be a useful shorthand for getting things done.
An invitation to engage
So the solution is probably not to run from jargon, but, as with most things, to wield it carefully. As speakers, we have some responsibility to make ourselves understood. And as good listeners, we can ask questions when we don't understand.
Calling people out isn't very productive — "Hey! Stop using those dirty acronyms!" — but inviting them to explain can be powerful. Try:
- "Oh! That word sounds important and I want to make sure I'm following you."
- "Maybe it's just me, though I think there's also some new people in the room, but could we take a second to make sure we're all clear on what we mean by that, just to avoid any confusion down the line?"
- "I haven't heard that one before. It sounds like it means ____, is that right?"
This is not about asking dumb questions. This is about opening up an opportunity to build shared understanding. While gently acknowledging the lack thereof. It's about shining light into the dark corners, sweeping out the cobwebs, and making the conversation hospitable for more people and more clarity.
Be the hero
If you've ever seen a movie, you know that fighting evil is what makes heroes, well, heroic. The villains serve a purpose.
Let your engagement with jargon, in all its wickedness, be an opportunity to clarify your concepts, unpack your assumptions, and elevate your organizational communication.
—ML
