Indians find workplace jargon confusing, hindering productivity and inclusivity: LinkedIn-Duolingo research

LinkedIn-Duolingo research has found that Indians find workplace jargon confusing, leading to a breakdown in communication and hindering productivity and inclusivity. The study highlights the need to use simpler and more inclusive language to create a positive work culture.

Workplace Jargon: How it Impacts Employees and Tips to Navigate Them

The workplace jargon has been a buzzword for years, with many employees feeling overwhelmed and confused by the use of technical terms and buzzwords. LinkedIn-Duolingo research revealed the top confusing workplace jargon in India, including “keep me in the loop,” “take offline,” “win-win situation,” and “core competency”. The results show that 78% of Indian professionals feel that jargon is overused in the workplace, with 34% saying they use it all the time.

The overuse of jargon can lead to inequity and miscommunication in the workplace, with 58% of Indian professionals confessing to misunderstanding or making mistakes because of the misuse of jargon. The research also showed that remote and hybrid workers were more prone to confuse jargon as compared to their onsite counterparts.

Despite this, many millennials and Gen Z professionals said that jargon made them feel professional and smarter, with some even suggesting that it builds a sense of team spirit. With the growing importance of cross-cultural communication, using clear and simple language is a crucial aspect of fostering a positive work culture.

To address this, LinkedIn is providing free learning courses such as communication and cultural differences, foundations of communication, and nano tips for effective communication. The courses can be accessed free of charge from 13th June to 13th July 2023. To navigate workplace jargon effectively, employees are encouraged to ask questions, keep it simple, and always be considerate of colleagues and their communication levels.

In conclusion, while workplace jargon can promote feelings of equity, productivity, and inclusivity within teams, its misuse can lead to confusion, misinterpretation, and even slower productivity levels. By taking the time to clarify technical terms and using simpler language that is inclusive to all employees, businesses can foster a more positive and productive work culture.

‘Keep me in the loop’, ‘take offline’ and ‘win-win situation’ – these are the workplace jargon phrases Indians find most confusing, according to LinkedIn-Duolingo research

Whether you’re starting out or looking to advance in your career, understanding workplace language can be confusing and overwhelming. To help alleviate this, LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network and Duolingo, the world’s leading language learning platform, have partnered to uncover new research* that spotlights how professionals feel about workplace jargon and offer tips to help create a more inclusive workplace.

The research found that there is specific jargon that Indians find most confusing in the workplace, with ‘keep me in the loop’ taking the title of most confusing, a term that means “keeping someone informed or updated on a topic”. The other confusing terms include ‘take offline’ (to discuss something away from a virtual to an in-person setting), ‘win-win situation’ (results that are favourable for all the parties involved) and ‘core competency’(capabilities that are one’s defining strength).

Language can cause inequity in the workplace and lead to an opportunity divide. 8 in 10 Indian professionals (81%) believe that workers with a better understanding of workplace jargon are able to get ahead at work (promotions, raises, etc.) more so than those who struggle to understand workplace terms. It’s even more concerning that a disproportionate amount of remote (88%) and hybrid (81%) workers struggle with confusion around workplace jargon, as compared to those who work onsite (74%).

Whilst some amount of workplace lingo is expected, the research found that 78% of Indian professionals feel that jargon is overused in the workplace, with 34% saying they use it all the time and it’s part of their vocabulary. In fact, nearly 1 in 3 (30%) Indian professionals often feel overwhelmed by jargon, saying they feel like their colleagues are speaking in a language they don’t understand.

Workplace jargon can also lead to a breakdown in communication and cause confusion with more than half (58%) of Indian professionals saying they have faced a misunderstanding or made a mistake at work because they didn’t know the meaning of workplace jargon or misused it. Gen Z (60%) and millennials (63%) are experiencing this the most. It is no surprise that more Indians (71%) want to eliminate or reduce the use of workplace jargon at work.

Despite that, millennials are found using workplace jargon the most (39%) along with Gen Z (36%), who confess using it all the time. In fact, 38% of millennials and 35% of Gen Z claim they’re so used to jargon that they barely know they’re using it. That raises the question – what makes jargon such an integral part of workplaces in India? Close to half (43%) of Indians think that people use jargon because it makes them feel professional. A similar share (42%) also say that speaking with jargon makes people feel smarter. Some professionals also see positives in using jargon, with 33% feeling that it simplifies communication or it makes them feel like they’re in the know.

Several professionals think the use of jargon makes people feel like they’re a part of a team (43%) and helps build workplace culture (37%). However, on the flip side, more than half (80%) of professionals also feel that they were forced to figure out the jargon at their workplace on their own.

Nirajita Banerjee, LinkedIn Career Expert and India Managing Editor says, “Linguistic habits and preferences vary greatly in India and across the world. So, when you’re working with teams that have different functions, are spread across borders, or come from diverse cultures, it’s crucial to use simpler and more inclusive language so there’s less or no room for misinterpretation. By avoiding too much jargon and using clear language, we create an environment where everyone feels more included, which leads to greater productivity, stronger teams, and a positive work culture.”

Karan Kapany, Country Marketing Manager, Duolingo says, “As a language learning app, we recognize the importance of effective communication for personal and professional growth. Our objective in conducting this survey is to explore the impact of corporate lingo, emphasising how miscommunication and unfamiliar jargon can hinder productivity and create a sense of isolation, especially for newcomers. Through this survey, we aim to inform individuals about the various corporate jargon, its implications and highlight the significance of workplace communication in fostering a more conducive work environment.”

Professionals commencing a new role are the ones most impacted by workplace jargons. 37% professionals say figuring out the meaning of jargon in their workplace made them feel left out of conversations. This process becomes stressful for many professionals (31%) and also slows down their productivity (34%). A majority of Gen Z (85%) and Millennials (82%) feel they’ve been left to their own devices with regard to workplace jargon at their most recent jobs.

To help professionals navigate workplace jargon, LinkedIn is offering free LinkedIn Learning courses such as Communication and cultural differences, Foundations of communication, Why authentic communication matters, Nano tips for communicating with confidence, Nano Tips to Enhance Your Communication and Nano Tips for Developing Magnetic Charisma that are available for free from 13 June to 13 July 2023, to help professionals get a better understanding of effective communication in the workplace.