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Corporate Speak Must Die

Corporate cogs use corporate speak!

This type of communication is so pervasive that if you work in an office it is nearly impossible to eliminate it from our vocabulary. If we are surrounded by people saying “think out of the box” or “take it to the next level”, we find ourselves saying those phrases as well.

Just because all the cool kids are saying it, doesn't mean we shouldn't challenge ourselves to eliminate jargon from our own communication.

Corporate speak must die!

Meaningless

When I hear a barrage of corporate jargon come out of someone's mouth, I automatically assume that they have no idea what they are talking about. The word soup sounds good in the moment. If you asked me afterwards what the conversation was all about, I'd have no clue whatsoever.

Thinking – We Don't Need to Do Any Stinkin' Thinking!

Why have a well thought out plan, mission or goal for your team when you can completely cover your lack of vision with jargon? I've written about this phrase before, but I truly hate “Let's take it to the next level.” Especially, when the next level is not defined, and a team has no idea what it looks like or how to get there. How can anyone be expected to achieve a goal when not even the leader can tell you what it looks like? How will you know when you get to the “next level”? You won't. Corporate speak replaces real thinking in a way that makes organizations rutterless.

Less Interested in Truth and More Interested in CYA

I've witnessed top executives spew a bunch of jargon during tough conversations with clients. If I was the client, I would feel like you are just using langauge to escape responsibility or soften the blow of bad news. Jargon is less interested in the truth and more interested in cover your ass. Having difficult conversations is part of any leader's job. If you can't tell a client the cold, hard truth, you are NOT doing your job.

Does Not Build Relationships

Business jargon tends to be mechanistic in nature. It takes the humanness out of working. It is desinged to make people feel like cogs that are easily replacable in the corporate machine. Nothing says I couldn't care less about you than referring to people as human capital, a resource or an asset. Building a relationship with people is what sets businesses apart and makes them successful.

What is the solution to corporate speak? I love this solution from Hoffman Agency! Storytelling can replace corporate speak because it is authentic, compelling, and well thought-out.

What do you think? How would you rid the world of the blithe of corporate speak? Speak your mind below!


The Hoffman Agency is a public relations firm that emphasizes storytelling in business communication.

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3 responses to “Corporate Speak Must Die”

  1. Mack McCoy says:

    That’s great, Michelle!

    Personally, at the end of the day, I’d like to step up my game a bit, take it to the next level, and with some out-of-the-box thinking – step up to the plate, hit it out of the park, and touch all the bases.

    Practically – there’s a joke about telling jokes in prisons. After “lights out,” the new guy hears someone shout out “42,” and the cell block breaks out in laughter. Someone else shouts out, “9,” and the laughter continues. The new guy asks his bunk mate to explain; “We’ve told these jokes so often that now we just refer to them by number.” “Can I try?” Sure. “17.” Silence. “17!” Silence. “You told it wrong.”

    Point being – cliches and corporate speak are substitutes for thinking. We might as well say, “We’re 48 to 6 because 13; I’m asking you 25 so that we can 11 and 44.”

    We should realize that if we really don’t have anything to say . . . (silence)!

    • Michelle says:

      This sentence made me laugh hysterically – “We’re 48 to 6 because 13; I’m asking you 25 so that we can 11 and 44.”

      I think there could be a mad lib for corporate speak. It would be as meaningful as actually corporate speak but way more hysterical.

      Loved the prison example. Thank you so much for your comment, Mack!

  2. herwig says:

    I think you may also like this short blog http://wp.me/p3kBAr-2X
    Cheers

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