Your workplace jargon is killing morale

A recent academic study¹ demonstrates what most thoughtful leaders already know: jargon in the workplace is killing your team. The study examined "how the use of jargon in workplace communication affects employees' processing fluency, self-efficacy, and their intentions to seek and share information."

As the authors note in the report, "jargon is pervasive across different fields" including science, technology, and political discussions. And while "experts might use jargon to present complex ideas more efficiently, there are unintended consequences of using jargon." The authors discuss metacognition and experience, but the conclusion is the most important: "Jargon significantly impairs processing fluency, which reduces self-efficacy and decreases intentions to seek and share information in the workplace." The authors conclude that "by fostering an environment that promotes understanding and confidence" by reducing or eliminating workplace jargon, "organizations can improve overall communication efficacy and collaboration."

And that is where thoughtful leaders can get involved. Strong and open communication is critical for any organization. To strengthen your organization, encourage ways for teams to communicate and collaborate. And be mindful of workplace jargon; using abbreviations for well known terms in your field is one thing, but using an abbreviation for the sake of using an abbreviation not only prevents others from understanding what is said, this study shows that it makes folks less likely to communicate.

¹ Bullock, O. M., & Bisbey, T. (2025). Jargon in the Workplace Reduces Processing Fluency, Self-Efficacy, and Information Seeking and Sharing. International Journal of Business Communication (Thousand Oaks, Calif.). doi.org/10.1177/23294884251364525