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LONDON - Management jargon can alienate staff and leave bosses looking untrustworthy and weak, according to a survey this week.
Managers who use phrases such as "singing from the same hymn sheet" may find themselves singing solo, the survey by Investors in People said.
Workers say such phrases as "blue sky thinking", "the helicopter view" and "heads up" can lead to alienation and low morale in the office.
Four in 10 of those surveyed (42 per cent) thought jargon created misunderstanding about roles and responsibilities.
The survey, carried out by YouGov in Britain to mark the 15th anniversary of Investors in People, a government-backed training initiative, found 37 per cent of the 2900 questioned think jargon results in mistrust and encourages a feeling of inadequacy.
Bosses seem oblivious to the dangers, with more than half (55 per cent) thinking it harmless.
That could explain why workers perceive it to be on the rise, with nearly 40 per cent believing it is increasingly creeping into office banter. Almost two-thirds of employees (60 per cent) would prefer no jargon at work.
Nearly 40 per cent of workers surveyed think jargon betrays a lack of confidence, while one in five think people who use it are untrustworthy or are trying to cover something up.
Nicola Clark, director at Investors in People, said: "Whilst jargon can be useful shorthand at times, managers need to be more alert to when and how they use it."
- REUTERS
