How do buzzwords lead to miscommunication and confusion? What is the best way to avoid them?
Business Communication
What good is a strategy if you cannot communicate with it? The demand for skilled communicators is high, especially those with graduate-level credentials. This week you will be presenting your Capstone Project to the board of directors. A presentation to a Board should be to the point: short and complete, simple and substantiated, persuasive and factual, confident and honest. The answer to this challenge is not to make a TED-like presentation. Directors are not seeking entertainment. They want to make the best possible decision in the shortest possible time while taking all information and risks into account.
Check out the Worst Presentation in the World:
Main Post Instructions
While watching the video, were you cringing? Respond to the following points:
• Business buzzwords are used around the world, every day. Why do you think business leaders rely on buzzwords?
• How do buzzwords lead to miscommunication and confusion? What is the best way to avoid them?
• How will you alter your communication after watching the video?
Required Reply Posts: Two replies are required. When you respond to your peers, compare your changes in communication with theirs. You should justify your responses and opinions with research. Cite your source(s) in APA format.
Please use the above questions as headers in the main post and answer below in a matter of fact voice.
Use one page for the main post and one for the two replies. Please use three sources for the main post and two per reply post.
Other post one, DE:
Business buzzwords are used around the world, every day. Why do you think business leaders rely on buzzwords?
Business leaders often use buzzwords to convey intricate ideas and concepts, be more concise, or appear motivational. This is because buzzwords often combine different ideas or concepts (Capacity, 2024). For instance, the word synergy is often used to communicate the concept of ensuring that various components work together (Herrity, 2024). The buzzword synergy conveys that several aspects of a business strategy, model, or effort should work towards a common goal (Merriam-Webster, 2024b). It is also noteworthy that buzzwords can help ensure that the message is succinct. This is because buzzwords encompass the meaning of critical concepts without breaking down the various elements (Pipeline, 2024). For instance, it is more efficient to use the buzzword drill down than it is to explain that management requires a complete, comprehensive, and thorough analysis of a particular subject matter (Taylor, 2023). This enables communicators to quickly express an idea or notion without getting bogged down in the minute details. Another reason why business leaders use buzzwords is that it can help a speaker appear inspirational, forward-thinking, or attention-grabbing (Acrolinx, 2024; EHL Insights, 2023; Herrity, 2024). This is because buzzwords tend to appear more impactful or meaningful than traditional words to convey a message. For example, it is more sophisticated to say that the company’s financial department will spearhead the cost efficiency initiative rather than saying that the finance department is responsible for creating a plan to improve its cost efficiency by reducing redundancies and waste. They also reinforce the notion that the speaker is knowledgeable on the subject matter. Altogether, this tends to make jargon and buzzwords very tempting because they help a speaker convey complex ideas and concepts, communicate more quickly, and appear influential and knowledgeable.
How do buzzwords lead to miscommunication and confusion? What is the best way to avoid them?
One of the most significant downsides of using buzzwords is the miscommunication that they can cause. This is because buzzwords often do not have a proper definition or singular meaning. For instance, when the term leverage is used as a buzzword, it can be confusing due to conflicting definitions. This is because business analysts use the term to express the amount of debt or borrowed capital that a firm has (Hayes, 2024). This term expresses a firm’s debt-to-equity ratio or capital structure (BDC, 2024). Others often use this terminology as a buzzword to indicate the degree of power or influence one person or entity has over another (Collins, 2024). For instance, the term is often used during a negation strategy where one party attempts to use leverage to influence the negotiation outcome (Scotwork Team, 2023). These vastly different meanings can often lead to miscommunication because each individual may arrive at a different conclusion regarding not only the definition but also the intent of the message (Stockley, 2022). This issue can be further compounded by the fact that certain buzzwords are often misused or overused. The increased usage and misusage of these terms complicate the matter by adding additional ambiguity about the buzzword’s meaning (Forbes Expert Panel, 2022). Making matters even worse, some people may be completely unfamiliar with the terminology. This tends to confuse audience members and turn them away because they are oblivious to the meaning of the buzzword. Jargon also tends to intimidate those unfamiliar with it (NLI, 2023). This creates a phenomenon where personnel unfamiliar with the term may not seek clarity because they do not wish to appear uninformed (Vaccaro, 2014). This suggests that using buzzwords can impede effective communication rather than support it. This can be evaluated by how buzzwords often have varying definitions, are misused and overused, and create a barrier for unfamiliar people.
Therefore, business leaders and managers should consciously try to avoid using buzzwords in their communication. This can be accomplished by focusing on proven communication practices such as using plain language, specificity, and understanding your audience (Rosen, 2022). Using ordinary language helps thwart jargon or buzzwords directly by ensuring they are not used (Stockley, 2022). This practice tends to increase the probability of effective communication by ensuring all audience members understand the message and content presented. Speakers who emphasize specificity also contribute to the audience’s understanding. This is because being specific rather than generic helps ensure the audience can relate to the message (Sacc0, 2014). For instance, managers should clearly explain the methods they plan to use rather than simply stating that the company will start streamlining its operations. Providing specific details about how leaders plan to achieve this objective can significantly help avoid misunderstandings and improve communication throughout the company. Another effective practice in communication is understanding the audience. This is because speakers should always communicate in a manner that is consistent with their audience’s understanding of the material presented (Marketing Evolution, 2022). When business leaders use simple language, are specific, and speak to their audience’s level of understanding, they can communicate far more effectively.
How will you alter your communication after watching the video?
The video demonstrates some of the worst practices in public speaking. The speaker showcases a perfect example of what not to do. After watching this video, I realized I could improve my public speaking abilities. Going forward, I will attempt to reduce my reliance on buzzwords and jargon to communicate a message. This should help improve the effectiveness of my communication skills and reduce the chances of miscommunication. I also noted that using generalizations or generic concepts can also be misleading. Going forward, I intend to speak more directly and specifically. These two distinct changes in my public speaking behaviors should positively impact my ability to communicate effectively.
Other post two, BH:
Business buzzwords are used around the world, every day. Why do you think business leaders rely on buzzwords?
Buzzwords can save time to generalize agreed upon jargon to a complex situation. This can help speed up the relay of more complex messaging (Indeed, 2024). Buzzwords have a simplified meaning if there is common frame of reference. In addition, business lingo can create a connection in the workplace (Husson, 2022). Using buzzwords can signify that employees are a member of the same team or a part of a culture (Every, 2019). Ultimately the goal of communication should be saying something succinctly and meaningful and being understood.
How do buzzwords lead to miscommunication and confusion? What is the best way to avoid them?
Overuse of buzzwords leads to miscommunication and confusion. Buzzwords may confuse simple concepts if they are overused or not actually relatable to a concept (Latson, 2016). This especially happens when people become lazy in their communication by misapplying terms (Husson University, 2022). Buzzwords can become outdated leading inconsistent interpretation and miscommunication. In addition, the same way that buzzwords can build rapport, they can also come across as exclusionary if not everyone is familiar with the lingo. Buzzwords can also cause messaging to come across as hollow or disingenuous, hiding behind general terms instead of providing factual evidence to support messaging (Spicer, 2018). One way to avoid buzzwords is by internalizing what they mean and putting them into your own words. Many will use buzzwords from leadership books they read or by watching others. Those leaders should take those learning lessons and summarize them into their own thoughts.
How will you alter your communication after watching the video?
I will alter communication to make each message conveyed unique to its’ own purpose. While some buzzwords may be useful when everyone in the conversation understands them, they cannot be overused (Latson, 2016). My messaging must be clear, without being generic through the use of buzzwords. I will ensure clarity in my messaging by using active listening. This can be done by having the person I am communicating with verbalize the message to be sure the intentions were understood. Finally, I will continually monitor buzzwords to determine what actually works. There may be a place for buzzwords and these buzzwords may have a life cycle, but this needs to be adjusted over time.
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