“Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall.”
– Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr
“LET’S circle back on this and leverage our synergies to move the needle.”
“Let’s think out of the box for the launch event.”
Sound familiar? If you’ve spent enough time in an office, you’ve probably heard (or maybe even used) phrases like these.
Working in the corporate world as a communication strategist for more than a decade has exposed me to countless practices, dynamics, and quirks. One of the most fascinating aspects? Corporate lingo – it’s everywhere, full of buzzwords and phrases that are meant to sound strategic and professional, but can sometimes be confusing or overused.
It sneaks into emails, meetings, and even casual conversations. Sometimes, it helps streamline communication, but other times it leaves people wondering: What did they actually mean by that?
I remember during my heyday when I first heard someone say, “Let’s take this offline.” My brain went straight to, “Are we unplugging something? Are we shutting down the conversation?” Turns out, it was just a fancier way of saying, “Let’s talk about this later.”
So, is corporate lingo making our communication better – or worse?
Corporate phrases weren’t born out of nowhere. They evolved as a way to make conversations more efficient, giving people shorthand for complex ideas. Think about industries like finance, tech, or marketing – specific jargon helps professionals communicate quickly and precisely.
But corporate lingo is different from industry-specific terminology. Unlike technical language, it often replaces straightforward speech with buzzwords that sound impressive but don’t always add value.
Despite the eye-rolls it sometimes gets, corporate lingo does have its perks. For instance:
It Makes Conversations Feel Efficient
Let’s be honest – some phrases do help us move faster. Saying “low-hanging fruit” instantly signals that a task is easy and should be tackled first. “On my radar” lets people know you’re aware of something without diving into details.
It Creates a Sense of Team Culture
There’s a certain familiarity that comes with shared phrases. Using common corporate terms can make employees feel like they’re part of a team that speaks the same language. It’s like an insider code – if you know it, you feel included.
It Adds a Layer of Professionalism
Let’s face it: sometimes corporate speak just sounds better. Saying “Let’s align our efforts” has a more polished tone compared to “Let’s make sure we’re on the same page”.
But for every benefit, there’s a downside – especially when corporate lingo is overused or misused.
I once worked with someone who threw around buzzwords like confetti. Every sentence had something about “synergies”, “bandwidth”, or “KPIs”. After one particularly jargon-heavy meeting, someone finally asked, “So, what do we actually need to do?” And just like you imagine, the meeting turned out to be awkward.
That’s the danger of corporate lingo. It sounds smart, but it can lead to more confusion than clarity.
More often than not, it makes conversations feel vague. Saying “let’s optimise our approach” doesn’t provide real direction. What exactly needs to change? What steps should we take? Employees often struggle with unclear feedback when buzzwords replace specific instructions.
Even so, some corporate phrases are downright puzzling. “Boil the ocean”? “Gain traction”? If a phrase needs extra explanation, it defeats the purpose of making communication clearer.
When I was new to the corporate world, I had no clue what “touch base” meant. Did I have to literally touch something? It wasn’t until I heard it repeatedly that I understood it meant “check in”. Overuse of corporate lingo can make onboarding harder for new employees and alienate those unfamiliar with the terms.
So, is corporate lingo good or bad?
Indeed, corporate lingo isn’t inherently bad. It just needs to be used wisely and in moderation – just like the saying, “Everything should be done in moderation.”
Say what you really mean, and don’t use buzzwords just to impress. If there’s a simpler way to say something, then use it.
Besides, people appreciate honesty and authentic conversations. Instead of overloading discussions with fancy phrases, focus on direct communication that solves problems. Clear communication builds trust.
And let’s not forget the audience – the people you’re speaking to. Not everyone speaks fluent corporate jargon. New hires, expatriates, international teams, or external business partners may not be familiar with certain phrases. Adjusting your language based on the audience makes conversations more effective.
Now you see, workplace communication is always evolving. Corporate lingo isn’t disappearing anytime soon, and there will likely be more phrases introduced down the road. But that doesn’t mean we have to let it take over our conversations. The best communicators know when to use it – and when to leave it behind in favour of direct, meaningful dialogue. The goal is clarity, not complexity.
So, the next time you catch yourself about to say, “let’s drill down on this”, ask yourself: Does this make communication clearer – or just sound fancy?
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at Shirley.suat@gmail.com.
