Is it time to ditch the industry jargon?
Language has the power to create connections, but in the workplace it can just as easily build barriers. Is it time to ‘circle back’ and throw out the confusing language, asks Wonderhatch’s Penny Harrison
With every new industry that we tap into as creatives – whether that be entertainment, retail, property or something else – there comes a whole new world of jargon. Conversations become a minefield of DOPs, VFXs and ATLs mixed with BTLs, DOOH or whatever other acronyms dominate your field. Many people are left thinking … WTF.
Like code tailored to a specific computer program, jargon claims to be a method of streamlining communication – a verbal shorthand to make industry chat quicker, easier and more effective. This may ring true for some individuals. But for new hires or partners, it can feel less like a tool and more like a barrier.
Shared language can create community between those that know it, but this also leads to exclusivity. In place of clarity, we use jargon, acronyms, shorthand. It risks shutting people out rather than bringing them in. When many companies are scaling back on diversity initiatives, now is the moment to reflect on the way we operate – to assess the finer points of how we communicate and ensure that we are inclusive in the way that we work.