(This article made me chuckle as I have seen this in person and it is truly cringeworthy. -- Sean)
From:
https://tinyurl.com/2p9vy7hx (theregister.com)
===
Gen Z and Millennials don't know what their colleagues are talking about half
the time
You want to 'take it offline'? Like, the whole company system? Well, OK then
Richard Currie
Tue 13 Jun 2023 // 12:27 UTC
"OK, people, let's engage in some proactive ideation and synergize
cross-functionally to leverage our core competencies and maximize
deliverables. Let's think outside the box and optimize our bandwidth
while aligning our key performance indicators. Remember to touch base
and provide visibility on the low-hanging fruit, ensuring we stay on
track with our strategic objectives. It's essential to leverage our
scalable solutions and adopt a data-driven approach to drive paradigm
shifts and achieve our stretch goals. Let's dive deep, drill down into
the granular details, and pivot if necessary, all while fostering a
culture of continuous improvement."
If that sounds like another language to you*, research by LinkedIn and
Duolingo would suggest you aren't alone. Although an unlikely pairing,
we've all seen LinkedIn sellouts regurgitating corporate buzzwords to game
the algorithm and felt like we need a language learning app to make sense
of it all.
The study aimed to root out the worst of workplace jargon, which the
authors warn may be "driving a wedge between generations," with almost
half (48 percent) of Millennials and Zoomers saying business bullshit
makes them feel "less involved."
The survey quizzed 1,016 employees in the UK aged 18 to 76, defining the
younger generation as those born between 1981 and 2012 and the elders as
1946-1980. Surprisingly, 69 percent of younglings say their colleagues
speak in too much jargon at work, while only 38 percent of graybeards have
the same misgivings.
And while Gen Z and pals feel like they're being left out, 54 percent are
making a real effort to actually change the way they speak at work - a
dark path downwards indeed. In comparison, only 32 percent of oldiewonks
admit to doing so, suggesting many of them are already lost.
Sadly, this habit extends to life outside the office too, with 64 percent
of Gen Z/Millennials admitting they find themselves using jargon at home.
So offer support to your friend who told you they'd "take a beat and
circle back" after you asked them if they want to get a drink.
This new language barrier may even have dire consequences professionally.
With 60 percent of the young'uns saying jargon sounds like another
language, 46 percent admitted that misunderstanding certain terms led them
to make a mistake at work.
More than half (54 percent, and twice as much as Gen X/Boomers) have even
had to Google a word during a meeting in an attempt to understand what on
earth manglement is talking about. Even more shamefully, 83 percent used a
word they didn't know the meaning of in a professional situation.
So not only are more senior staff running rings around young employees
with their hollow lexicon, but they aren't helping them understand either
- 69 percent of younger workers say they had to figure this stuff out on
their own.
Charlotte Davies, Career Expert at LinkedIn, commented: "Plenty of people
use jargon as part of their everyday language without even realizing it,
but for those who are newer to the workplace, learning a whole new set of
vocabulary can be frustrating.
"According to the research, there is a perception that those who can get
to grips with jargon are more likely to progress at work, with 67 percent
of Gen Z and Millennials agreeing. Learning the workplace language can be
tough, and we hope that by opening up the conversation, we can help to
break down that workplace language barrier."
Dr Hope Wilson, Learning and Curriculum Manager at Duolingo, added:
"There's no need to feel ashamed if you use jargon in the workplace, but
it's helpful to be aware that these words can cause others to feel
confused or left out. When possible, consider other terms that convey the
same meaning that have a higher likelihood of being understood by all."
So with the stats out of the way, we're sure you're desperate to know the
worst offenders and whether you've ever been guilty of using them
non-ironically.
Top most misunderstood workplace jargon phrases
* COP/EOD - 64 percent
* Watchouts - 63 percent
* Move the needle - 61 percent
* Baked in - 60 percent
* Blue sky thinking - 58 percent
* Wordsmith - 57 percent
* Quick flag - 57 percent
* Low hanging fruit - 55 percent
* Deep dive - 50 percent
* Circle back - 48 percent
Most frequently used workplace jargon phrases
* Moving forwards - 20 percent
* Touch base - 16 percent
* Noted - 15 percent
* Singing from the same hymn sheet - 14 percent
* Reach out - 11 percent
* Blank canvas - 11 percent
* Ducks in a row - 7 percent
* Take it offline - 7 percent
* Circle back - 7 percent
* Double click - 7 percent
Most annoying workplace jargon phrases
* Blue sky thinking - 16 percent
* Low hanging fruit - 15 percent
* Ducks in a row - 14 percent
* Move the needle - 13 percent
* Touch base - 13 percent
* COP/EOD - 12 percent
* Watchouts - 12 percent
* Baked in - 12 percent
* Sing from the same hymn sheet - 12 percent
* A quick flag - 12 percent
Most frequently misused phrases
* Take it offline - 20 percent
* Watchouts - 19 percent
* Blue sky thinking - 19 percent
* Reaching out - 19 percent
* Closing the loop - 18 percent
* Touch base - 18 percent
* Noted - 18 percent
* In totality - 18 percent
* Circle back - 18 percent
* Move the needle - 18 percent
If you need to know what any of these mean, Google is (^) that way. Still,
in 20 years' time your boss might be asking you to take a "vibe check"
with a client, imploring you to achieve more "Ws" and fewer "Ls", and
telling you that your work is "mid." But in the meantime, LinkedIn has a
couple of "Nano Tip" courses on how to enhance your corporate
communication. (R)
*We went to great lengths to make sure this passage meant very little in
as many words as possible.
===
-- Sean
--- Maximus/2 3.01
* Origin: Micronet World HQ - bbs.outpostbbs.net:10323 (618:618/1)
