3 Things you can do to avoid corporate jargon
If there’s one thing that stops an audience from hearing a message, it’s corporate jargon. So often, I read talking points that describe an initiative that’s meant to improve operational efficiency, deliver data-driven results, using a customer-centric approach. And I’m thinking… what does that even mean?!
I get that it’s easy to copy and paste from a corporate report that’s already been vetted, but it doesn’t do much to support your principal become a more compelling communicator.
So, here are three ways to cut the jargon:
Read talking points out loud
Read your talking points out loud to yourself before you send them off to your principal. Would you truly understand anything you just said if you weren’t working for your company? Identify any corporate speak and think about how to turn it into something more accessible. Ask yourself, what am I really trying to say here? How would I describe this to my partner or a friend? That’s always a great starting point for more digestible language.
Start early
It’s tempting to copy and paste from other documents because it’s quick: You know the language had been signed off by legal and compliance so it doesn’t need to be reviewed. If you’re going to revamp something make sure you give yourself enough time to navigate corporate processes. I’m a big believer in fact-checking and proofing, but often the edits that come back are more about style than legal or reputational risk. Be prepared to push back and ask for the rationale behind unreasonable changes.
Turn your principal into an advocate
If you present something clearer than corporate jargon, it’s likely you will face resistance from other teams. Bottom line: You need your principal's support. Discuss with your principal to ensure they are on board and promoting your new approach internally. Unfortunately, the truth is that legal is more likely to approve something if they know they’ll get pushback from someone in leadership.
You may not win every single battle, but you will showcase the skills you bring to the table and build a deeper relationship with a senior leader, who will likely be hiring a speechwriter in the not too distant future.
