When social media influencer Lisa Beasley parodies corporate speak with her “Corporate Erin” persona on TikTok, thousands laugh along. Her satirical videos mock the buzzwords that tangle modern business communication. But behind the humor lies a serious issue: corporate jargon is creating real barriers in today’s multigenerational workplace.

According to the Duolingo and LinkedIn State of Workplace Jargon Report, which surveyed more than 8,000 workers across eight countries, the overuse of business buzzwords isn’t just annoying, it’s actively hampering understanding and productivity across generational lines. Nearly 60 percent of respondents felt that their colleagues overused jargon. Gen Z-ers and Millennials sometimes feel excluded when they don’t understand the terms their managers use. Buzzwords baffle Baby Boomers, too, as they hear their younger counterparts use language in unexpected ways.

The generational divide in understanding corporate jargon is evident in the examples that confuse different age groups. The Duolingo/LinkedIn study highlighted specific terms that cause the most confusion in American workplaces. Phrases like “boiling the ocean” and “herding cats” topped the list of perplexing jargon. Even seemingly ubiquitous expressions such as “run it up the flagpole,” “move the needle,” or “get your ducks in a row” can leave many employees scratching their heads.

When managers tell their young workers to “run an idea up a flagpole,” Gen Z employees may wonder which flagpole the manager is talking about. Referring to “balls in the air” conjures images of circus jugglers and a term like “blue sky thinking” might mystify younger staff.

Conversely, many Boomers’ minds boggle when they learn that “brat” is now a positive term and “savage” implies being brave or fearless. The evolving nature of language means that “high-key” now means the opposite of “low-key,” implying giving all one’s energy to a task, while “bae” stands for “before anyone else.” The message here is obvious: Business buzzwords blur rather than boost business communication.

When you use too many business buzzwords, you might make members of certain age groups feel excluded. Worse, they might not know what you’re talking about. If the purpose of communication is to convey our meaning seamlessly to our readers, corporate buzzwords are clearly not doing the job.

Using terms that other people do not understand makes them feel disconnected from you. When people feel alienated, they are less open to receiving your message. Why write in a way that obstructs the communication goals you are trying to achieve?

The solution to this communication conundrum isn’t complex, but it does require conscious effort.

Here are some strategies to improve workplace communication:

When you encounter a term you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. This not only helps you but also alerts others to potentially confusing language. Remember, if you’re confused, others likely are too.

Consider who you’re communicating with and adjust your language accordingly. What’s clear to you might be opaque to others.

If you must use industry-specific jargon, provide brief explanations to ensure everyone is on the same page. For instance, “blue sky” and “boiling the ocean” sound like meteorological terms to me, just as “low-hanging fruit” could be mistaken for good news for farm workers.

Use clear, straightforward language in your own communication. Regardless of your position in the organization, you can become the person known for straight talk.

Instead of relying on tired buzzwords, challenge yourself to find fresh, clear ways to express your ideas. Write clearly and simply. Your readers will feel refreshed, included, and genuinely ready to engage with your message.

Remember, the goal of business communication isn’t to spout the latest slang–it’s to convey ideas effectively and drive collective success. By actively working to eliminate generation-specific words and prioritizing clear communication, you create more inclusive, efficient, and productive workplaces.

The next time you’re tempted to use a buzzword, pause and ask yourself: Is there a simpler way to express this idea? Your colleagues–across all generations–will thank you for it.

For those of you still scratching your heads over some of the buzzwords I dropped in this column, here’s a handy decoder.

Click here to read more articles on business communication

4 Ways to Build Relationships With Language

The Art of Conciseness: 5 Ways to Master Brevity

The Language Of Leadership

The post Buzzwords Block Intergenerational Communication appeared first on Worktalk.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employers rate “soft skills” such as communication as essential to success. A recent article in Harvard Business Review indicates that the need for soft skills goes straight to the top. The authors’ research showed that C-suite job descriptions that required strength in soft skills increased by almost 30 percent between 2005 and 2017. In fact, the research indicated that boards considered communication skills equal to or more important than financial or operational prowess. Clearly, businesses have faced the hard reality that speaking, writing, and listening are make-or-break attributes for success in any field. 

Some people consider writing a soft skill–one that is nice to have but not a necessity. This assumption can cost a person a sale, a promotion, or a job, because in reality, being a good writer is more important today than ever before. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 73.4 percent of employers want a candidate with strong written communication skills. People who write well are more likely to get hired, promoted, and succeed.

Among the so-called soft skills, writing skills hold outsize influence, because someone wrote everything that is read–and a lot of reading goes on in every businessperson’s day. Whether it is an investment prospectus, a project report, a white paper, a board letter, or a simple email, written documents require a level of skill and attention that employers often struggle to find.

Because being a good writer is so important, you can catapult ahead in your career by doubling down on developing your written communication skills. Here are three ways that being a good writer will make you more successful in 2023. 

1. You will be more confident. 

Just as knowing you have the right outfit on gives you more confidence to enter a crowded room, knowing that you can express yourself effectively on paper gives you the self-possession to stand out at work. Feeling secure that your words have captured your meaning along with your nuance enables you to present your ideas with confidence. 

2. You will have better relationships with colleagues and customers. 

We all know the person whose messages we dread to read. Maybe they indulge in a habitually snarky tone; maybe they take 50 words to deliver a five-word point; maybe they write with so many errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation that we are hard-pressed to know what the heck they’re talking about. In all these cases, the individuals sabotage their relationships by the way they write. 

As a good writer, you do the opposite. You maintain a pleasant tone, get to the point, and proofread before you send. These are simple habits, but they benefit you in a thousand ways. Let’s face it: When you write well, people are happier to hear from you. 

3. You will be more competent. 

Clear messages get things done. As Amazon’s Jeff Bezos tells his staff, succinct messages lead to success. If your writing is concise and to the point, you continually move work processes forward. Your firm-wide missives show your staff how they fit into the bigger picture and inspire them to follow your lead. Your emails invigorate readers and tell them what they need to know to take the next step in your projects. When you express yourself clearly and authentically, your readers are more apt to accept what you say.

Yes, speaking is also important; however, the spoken word vanishes as soon as it is uttered, while writing endures forever–to inform, inspire, and engage. That is why, in 2023, you will do well to double down on developing this fundamental competency.

The post 3 Reasons to Improve Your Writing This Year appeared first on Worktalk.