Many of us have, at some point in our lives, embarked on learning a new language, perhaps even mastering one. We all likely recall the challenges:
Grappling with unfamiliar grammar.
Memorizing thousands of new words.
Perfecting pronunciation.
Adapting to the unique tonality and rhythm of a language different from our native tongue.
Navigating a new organization bears striking similarities to this linguistic endeavor.
Each organization operates within its own linguistic ecosystem, with acronyms, technical jargon, and coded terms intelligible only to insiders. Yet, beyond the mere vocabulary acquisition, each corporate entity possesses its own lexicon of power words and taboo terms.
Power words are deployed in meetings to convey sophistication, signal success, or assert executive authority. Consider, for instance, the seemingly innocuous phrase "Let’s all double-click on this," which not only epitomizes corporate vernacular but also signifies an assertive stance in steering the conversation and delving into topics with greater depth than previously explored. Or “Let us review all the relevant options” which implies that the rest of the group hasn’t considered everything and it’s time to be more strategically minded.
Conversely, taboo words represent concepts deemed antithetical to the organization’s core values or beliefs. While one corporation might shun terms like "Mission" or "Purpose," favoring instead the likes of "Strategy" and "Executional Pillars," another may hold entirely different linguistic preferences. Understanding these nuances is essential to effectively communicate within an organization, much like speaking in a native tongue in a foreign country.
My advice? View these corporate-specific languages as distinct discourse systems, each with its own lexicon, rules, and implicit belief structures. Adopting this perspective will allow you to study corporate language in a nuanced way, without judgment or bias.