Communication: let’s be clear, we should cut out the clichés

How much of the language in our day-to-day business interactions is wrapped in jargon: the over-used buzzwords that provide a linguistic shortcut to what we want to say? From boots on the ground or low-hanging fruit to blue-sky thinking and defending our position, we all do it. We all use this surface lexicon that spares us the effort of bringing original thinking to our interactions.

In our relentless pursuit of efficiencies – a corner-cutting that extends to the way we speak –we’re creating a world where interaction becomes superficial, meaning muddied, and inspiration and engagement are swapped out for utilitarianism. Just look at the stats. Workforce engagement has sunk to less than 23% globally, according to Gallup, with less than half of employees understanding what is expected from them at work. The same survey reveals that less than 30% of workers feel any real sense of mission or purpose in their jobs. The language of leadership is a contributing factor…