Goodbye, Jargon.
This article is part of Finding the Words, a newsletter that delivers practical insights on the day’s issues.
It’s mid-August, which means one thing in the Fox house: My annual end-of-summer clean-up. It’s time to reclaim the kitchen's disastrous catch-all drawer, move our finished summer reading books to the Little Free Library, and declutter the kids’ rooms before a new school year begins. Somehow, it’s already time to prepare for the start of September and the fresh start of a new season.
While nothing quite compares to a freshly de-cluttered junk drawer, I recommend that every bit of life experience a good clean-up now and again to make time for what matters most. Perhaps you remove some no-longer-needed meeting holds on your calendar, pull back on your smartphone usage, or practice more direct and clear communication.
Just as we can benefit from de-cluttering at home, we can benefit from de-cluttering our language, which helps ensure everyone on a team is connected and on the same page.
To get you started, I’ve compiled ten words and phrases that are often overused in the workplace and can lead to unnecessary confusion among teams—particularly new team members who might not be familiar with your workplace jargon. If any words on this list are part of your regular vocabulary, consider replacing them with new and more precise language instead.
If there are other words that you think are worth recycling, drop me a line, and I’ll add them to a future list.
ADD CLARITY BY LOSING THESE WORDS:
Deep Dive. This has become a go-to phrase in professional settings, typically describing meetings that don’t go very deep at all. If you’re using this phrase to describe a meeting that isn’t a deep exploration of a topic or a research review, consider swapping out the jargon for “project check-in” or another more accurate description.
Pipeline. Commonly-used lingo in marketing and fundraising, your “pipeline” may refer to your donor list, your business prospects, or those with whom you’d like to build relationships. The problem is that it could mean many things, leaving room for confusion and interpretation. Try instead calling your pipeline what it is: a contact list, a donor prospect list, or a target customer list.
The Best-Kept Secret. If you’re among the many professionals who proudly refer to your organization as “a best-kept secret,” I suggest you retire the phrase. Communicating that you’re the “best-kept secret” might limit your ability to become more well-known. More on this in my post next week!
Pick your Brain? This is a well-intended phrase that’s become highly overused in professional settings. How about swapping it with something more straightforward, such as “Can I get your thoughts on this project?”
Move the Needle. This phrase often describes a noticeable change, such as ‘Let’s move the needle on homelessness.” The imagery refers to the needle on a measuring instrument, which moves to indicate the level that has been reached. The phrase had roots in the industrial revolution when needles were an essential part of measuring devices, such as an altimeter on an aircraft or the measurement tool on audio recording equipment. As needled instruments have been sunset for more digital tools, this phrase may also be ready for a sunset. How about instead, “Let’s make progress” or “Let’s advance this goal.”
FOSTER CONNECTION BY LOSING THESE WORDS:
Bandwidth. If you’re talking about internet usage, this word has great relevancy. But if you’re among the many who use “bandwidth” to refer to human capacity, such as “Do you have the bandwidth for this project,” it’s time for a swap. Instead, “Do you have the capacity for this project?”
End-user. As with “bandwidth,” end-user is a technology word that spread to more general use, especially in marketing, where it’s become synonymous with customers, community members, or audience members. Leave the impersonal language behind and replace it with something that speaks more accurately to the people benefitting from your work.
Does That Make Sense? By asking, “Does that make sense?” after you’ve finished a thought, you’re giving the impression that you’re not convinced yourself, or that your idea might be incomplete. Rather than seeking validation (and likely only getting a yes or no answer), try instead seeking feedback. How about: “What are your thoughts?” or “I’d like your input on this.” If you want feedback, ask your question in a way that will elicit it.
PROMOTE INCLUSION BY LOSING THESE WORDS:
That’s Crazy. Many use phrases like “That’s so crazy!” or “This project timeline is insane.” These words can be stigmatizing for people with lived experiences of mental health conditions. Many individuals have shared their reluctance, fear, and anxiety in seeking mental health support because they may be labeled by friends, colleagues, or loved ones as crazy or insane.
Blind Spot. Be mindful of euphemisms that reinforce ableism. Using a phrase such as a blind spot to describe a lack of knowledge or willful ignorance—such as “the senator has a blind spot on certain issues”—is not respectful of people who are blind as it references a visual impairment to describe a lack of knowledge.
So, there's my end-of-summer jargon recycling list. No deep dives, pipelines, or needles are needed. And with each swap, we get closer to plain, inclusive speak that helps us connect and communicate better.
Have more words to add to this list? Send me an email at carrie@mission.partners for inclusion in a future list.
Bottom line: Regardless of the words you choose to swap, focus on where you can clarify and simplify the language you use. When we take the time to debunk our go-to terms, we stand a better chance at communicating inclusively and effectively.
This post is part of the Finding The Words column, a series published every Wednesday that delivers a dose of communication insights direct to your inbox. If you like what you read, we hope you’ll subscribe to ensure you receive this each week.
