Office Etiquette - Jargon

Yes, we all have 'issues' with jargon; let's all be proactive about the way we interface, give it some face-time, run it up the flagpole and kick the tires, then come up with a value-proposition that really shows we're tasked with thinking the unthinkable . . . and so on.



At the end of the day, it all comes down to what you bring to the table. Isn't it time we closed the circle and concentrated on our core competencies? We need to build a soup to nuts solution, and that means rolling out a seamless paradigm shift. With a world-class approach, and the right synergy, we can take it to the next level. It's win-win. So why should you need to think outside the box?


The real problem with jargon is that it's anti-language and anti-communication. It's obfuscatory, rendering the simplest sentences opaque. Don't use jargon to disguise ignorance, wrong-foot colleagues and clients, or conceal ineptitude. Think carefully about what you are trying to say.

It is never a mistake to write, and speak, in plain, jargon-free English. You will be praised for the incisiveness of your thinking, and rewarded for your ability to communicate clearly.

Miss Debrett's Top Tips

• Try to write and speak in plain, jargon-free English.
• Never try to disguise ignorance or wrong-foot colleagues and clients with obscure turns of phrase.
• Clear communicators will always do better than those who rely on jargon to get ahead.
  

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