TIP #5 | Ditch the buzzwords, industry jargon & insider language
One of your goals should be understanding, not displaying your mastery of the subject
This Substack is dedicated to helping people everywhere communicate more effectively about difficult topics. The pieces go in order so if you haven’t started at the beginning, go back to the main page and scroll down.
To review:
Tip #1 - be brave and decide to have the difficult conversation.
Tip #2 - communicate to solve the problem.
Tip #3 - say as much as you can upfront and get it behind you.
Tip #4 - don't say everything! Leave out the unhelpful bits.
Here’s Tip #5 - use words we all understand.
Listen, you’re very clever. I know you can get into the weeds about ROI, scale your operations, and pivot on a dime, but what does any of that really mean? Please talk to us using words we can understand.
Sure, we should try to learn from each other and broaden our own understanding when we hear words and ideas that are new to us. But please don’t try that in the middle of a crisis. Or even a mini-crisis. Actually, stop doing it most of the time, just to be safe.
If you’re trying to solve a problem, use words that everyone knows. Aim to be understood. Using the right kind of words will help get you there.
Think of it this way; your word choices can be inclusive or exclusive. Choose to be inclusive.
Don’t make it worse by using confusing language that excludes some people from understanding what you’re saying.
When you work in an industry or for an organization that has lots of acronyms or specialized terminology, every time you use it with people on the outside of your bubble, you lose some of them.
And that’s not the only problem with it. Think about a time when someone used a term you’re not familiar with in conversation. You were following along just fine but once you heard the word or phrase that was new to you or you didn’t understand, what did your brain do? It searched for an explanation or a definition.
By default, what is your brain also doing? It’s not hearing anything else the speaker is saying while it’s busy doing something else. That’s just how people work.
Make sure your word choices don’t provide your listener a distraction. It’s hard to problem solve a difficult situation when your audience isn’t actively listening any more.
To review: don’t be exclusive and don’t distract from your message by introducing words and ideas that people might not understand.
Think of the audience you need to reach. Speak to them. Ditch the buzzwords, industry jargon and insider language so they’ll feel included and won’t wander off mentally trying to make sense of your words.
You can do it. I know you can.
Next is Tip #6 - click here for a link. Don’t let others define reality for you. Get in the fray and have the conversation.