According to new research*, there could be a direct correlation between those professionals who overuse clichéd phrases and jargon against those professionals who are most likely to feel excluded or alienated in their workplace.
79 per cent of professionals polled by Powwownow admit to feeling averse to working with those who employ over-used and poorly understood terms, especially ‘blue sky thinking,’ which was revealed as the most disliked turn of phrase.
Data from the conference call specialist also highlighted that a large percentage of those with access to a phone are generally reluctant to answer it to anyone who might use jargon; 38 per cent of those polled think twice. This may be as 25 per cent admit to feeling confused as a result of jargon, rather than confident in what had been conveyed.
Robert Gorby, Marketing Director at Powwownow, said: “Time is usually precious during meetings, especially those where attendees collaborate and produce some sort of outcome. It’s in situations like this, when the pressure’s on, that jargon’s most likely to be used and unsurprisingly be the most unwelcome according to the data.
“62 per cent of those we asked dread the use of phrases like ‘touch base’ or ‘blue sky thinking’ during face-to-face meetings. In contrast, only 20 per cent of us anticipate being bombarded in the same way on a conference call.”
From a selection of the most common jargon terms including ‘going forward,’ ‘KPI,’ ‘drill down’ and ‘touch base,’ 70 per cent of UK professionals admitted to knowing what only three or less actually meant. What’s more, 74 per cent doubt that those responsible for introducing jargon to a conversation know the meaning of the terms they’re using.
Gorby continued: “The majority of us believe that those who use jargon do so to impress his/her peers. For those of us who use these phrases in earnest, in an attempt to improve and enhance communications, the findings suggest now is the time to rethink your vocabulary. Whether it’s in the flesh, over a call or a videoconference, it can be absolutely critical for businesses to maintain clear and uncluttered communications which isn’t impaired by one person’s vernacular.”
* Conducted amongst 1,277 UK professionals with the support of Toluna.
