What’s in a word — Millennials and Gen Z believe KISS is better than jargon

• Over 60% of Gen Z and 63% of all working millennials are confused by jargons. LinkedIn-Duolingo’s survey shows they have misunderstood or misused business jargon at their workplace.
• Nearly half of working professionals surveyed think that people use jargon because it makes them feel professional and helps them get ahead in careers.
• Work shouldn’t have to involve solving riddles, feel the respondents.

Have you ever felt left out during water cooler sessions? Or have you ever scratched your head when you were asked to add more value to your quarterly sales presentations? Well, you are not the only one if professional social networking platform LinkedIn and language learning app, Duolingo’s joint survey findings are anything to go by. The platform has found that employees find workplace jargon most confusing. An astonishing 37% of professionals surveyed by the world’s largest professional networking platform feel left out of conversations because of the use of jargon and believe that adhering to the ‘Keep It Simple Series’ helps.

According to their research, business jargon like ‘keep me in the loop’ and ‘let’s take this offline’ are most confusing for Indians. Workplace inequity is the latest problem that companies need to worry about because language can also lead to inequity. According to Duolingo-LinkedIn’s survey, 81% professionals believe that workers with a better understanding of workplace jargon are able to get ahead at work by getting promotions and better pay hikes. In comparison, those people who struggle to understand workplace terms may often get a raw deal. It’s even more concerning that a disproportionate amount of remote (88%) and hybrid (81%) workers struggle with confusion around workplace jargon, as compared to those who work onsite (74%).

Oftentimes, seniors use phrases like ‘keep me in the loop’, a term that means “keeping someone informed or updated on a topic”, but it often leaves others rather flummoxed. The other confusing terms are – ‘take offline’ (to discuss something away from a virtual to an in-person setting) and even ‘win-win situation’ (results that are beneficial for all the parties involved) and ‘core competency’(capabilities that are one’s defining strength).

Nirajita Banerjee, LinkedIn Career Expert and India Managing Editor says, “Linguistic habits and preferences vary greatly in India and across the world. So, when you’re working with teams that have different functions, are spread across borders, or come from diverse cultures, it’s crucial to use simpler and more inclusive language so there’s less or no room for misinterpretation. By avoiding too much jargon and using clear language, we create an environment where everyone feels more included, which leads to greater productivity, stronger teams, and a positive work culture.”

You would assume that GenZ, which have shortcodes for almost all things they do would be adept at picking up business jargon too, but it seems that 60% of Gen Z and 63% of all working millennials are the most confused by jargon, having misunderstood or misused it at their workplace.

It is no surprise that more Indians (71% of those surveyed) want to eliminate or reduce the use of workplace jargon at work. Despite that, millennials are found using workplace jargon the most (39%) along with Gen Z (36%). In fact, 38% of millennials and 35% of Gen Z claim they’re so used to jargon that they barely know they’re using it.

The unnecessary compilation?

That raises the question – what makes jargon such an integral part of workplaces in India? Close to half (43%) of Indians think that people use jargon because it makes them feel professional. A similar share (42%) also say that speaking with jargon makes people feel smarter. Some professionals also see positives in using jargon, with 33% feeling that it simplifies communication or it makes them feel like they’re in the know. Several professionals think the use of jargon makes people feel like they’re a part of a team (43%) and helps build workplace culture (37%). However, on the flip side, more than half (80%) of professionals also feel that they were forced to figure out the jargon at their workplace on their own.

Workplace jargon negatively impacts efficiency, especially among new team members

Professionals commencing a new role are the ones most impacted by workplace jargons. 37% professionals say figuring out the meaning of jargon in their workplace made them feel left out of conversations. This process becomes stressful for many professionals (31%) and also slows down their productivity (34%).

A majority of Gen Z (85%) and Millennials (82%) feel they’ve been left to their own devices with regard to workplace jargon at their most recent jobs. According to Karan Kapany, Country Marketing Manager, Duolingo, “As a language learning app, we recognise the importance of effective communication for personal and professional growth. Our objective in conducting this survey is to explore the impact of corporate lingo, emphasising how miscommunication and unfamiliar jargon can hinder productivity and create a sense of isolation, especially for newcomers.”

Is there a way to navigate the corporate corridors without looking stupid? Apparently there is a way out. To help professionals navigate workplace jargon, LinkedIn and other learning platforms offer free courses on soft skills and ways to navigate cultural differences.

Tips to Navigate The World Of Business Jargon

● Ask questions: The majority of professionals find workplace jargon confusing so don’t be afraid to ask clarifying questions. Work shouldn’t have to involve solving riddles. You should feel more than comfortable asking questions that enable you to get your work done the right way.

● Be considerate: If you’ve been in the workforce for a while, using workplace jargon might be second nature to you. Think back to your first day at a new job – sometimes you just don’t know what you don’t know. Be mindful of this learning curve to help professionals of all backgrounds and levels feel included and understood.

● Keep it simple: While every workplace has its unique culture and terminology, do your best to keep language simple. For example, instead of “let’s get our ducks in a row before this meeting” try replacing it with simpler language like “let’s prepare and get organised before this meeting.” Simplifying language at work helps create and equitable culture and fosters inclusivity.