Business lingo is in itself a full-fledged dialect. No matter how handy business jargons and corporate buzzwords are, not everyone on your team may understand these phrases and interpret them as you do.
According to a recent survey, every 1 in 5 people dislikes corporate buzzwords. Only 71% of people understand the context and meaning of these utterly overused buzzwords, while others use them to look professional and part of the pack.
These corporate buzzwords and jargons are stereotyped and cringeworthy for millennial employees. This article discusses some common buzzwords which can irk your employees.
Why Avoid Filler Words and Phrases?
Something that’s heard over and over loses its meaning and credibility. Numerous meetings and calls in a day and hearing the same jarring jargon and phrases can be extremely exasperating to millennials when they hear them tastelessly.
Corporate buzzwords can feel false, and the seniors can lose their credibility. Bewildering corporate lingo can create a sense of exclusion. Employees who don’t understand these buzzwords can feel foolish or insufficient.
10 Most Annoying Corporate Buzzwords in 2024
Overusing corporate buzzwords can make people look pretentious or downright stupid. Let’s see which corporate buzzwords and phrases get to the nerves of your millennial employees-
1. Bandwidth
“I don’t have the bandwidth” might seem like a polite way of saying no, but this corporate jargon quickly can get to the nerves of millennial employees. They would want to hear a simple no with appropriate reasoning if possible instead of this overused and frequently abused phrase.
2. The New Normal
While pandemic has hit us all in more than one grave way, with several people losing jobs, family members, or substantial assets due to it. Using ‘the new normal’ phrase for trivial office situations does not go well with the millennials.
See Also: Best Asynchronous Communication Tools for Remote Teams
3. Game-Changer
What’s the use of glorifying every move as a game-changer when it’s never going to change anything? These corporate jargon are overused in corporate meetings and no longer serve their primary purpose. Your millennial employees fail to see your vision and find the phrase utterly puffery.
4. Think Outside the Box
Well, it might resonate outside your vocabulary more. Millennials do understand that not every idea of theirs will fall into your “bandwidth.” Asking them to think outside the box does not always sit well with them. This should never be the go-to phrase for asking for solutions to any problem.
5. In These Trying Times…
Your employees don’t require this disclaimer every time they’re deprived of some benefit, appraisal, or other perks. This corporate buzzword has become a mockery of a severe pandemic and appears more like a flimsy excuse than a genuine reason.
Also Read: How Can Managers Successfully Manage a Hybrid Workforce?
6. Circle Back
If you tell your employees to circle back about something, in their minds, they would probably think something along the lines of, “Let’s circle back to have another pointless meeting.” Instead, talk upfront about deadlines, queries, and processes, and doing so would serve the purpose better.
7. Boot on the Ground
Using tough-sounding military phrases for mundane office tasks is a big no-no. For example, saying, “We need more boots on the ground,” seems inappropriate as using this phrase while staffing might not go well with your millennial employees. Effused, confused, and annoyed, they feel zoned out and might take you as a pretentious boss.
8. No Brainer
It isn’t necessary that what’s easy for you to comprehend will be easy for your employees. Introducing a new decision or answering a question with the phrase ‘No brainer’ actually works as a trigger for the employees.
9. Low-Hanging Fruit
Employees seriously don’t get your metaphorical way of explaining easily achievable goals. It can lead the course of the discussion toward unrelated topics unrelated to the ongoing task. Try to minimize any fruit metaphors or other distracting phrases that serve no real purpose and use clearer communication methods.
See Also: The Most Common Issues You’ll Encounter at Work
10. Giving 110%
As if there is no upper limit to sufficiency. Employees feel pressured and underappreciated when they are told to give 110%. If giving 100% wasn’t sufficient, how can 110% be? The millennials find this corporate jargon annoying. Therefore, avoid using them in meetings to motivate them.
Final Words
No matter how widely used these office jargon and buzzwords are, there is a substantial chance that your employees are gritting their teeth through the meetings. Using this business lingo might provide a false sense of acclimation to the corporate culture. However, millennial employees like communication to be simple and effective.
