by Leigh Goessl

Created on: August 25, 2009   Last Updated: December 16, 2011

Business jargon serves a useful purpose internally, but when communicating externally to the department or organization, it is best to avoid using jargon and acronyms in communication.

Abbreviated terminology is helpful for those who work intimately within the industry or field because it is fast, efficient and useful in most circumstances, however does not fit well with the outside world.

Industry speak does have its time and place, but if used in outside communications, this has a tendency to undermine the effectiveness of the messages being sent. When people use acronyms and abbreviations when writing or speaking to an audience not familiar to the business jargon, it can be counterproductive and result in diminished communication.

There are several reasons for this. The most prominent being the message is going to be unsuccessfully delivered to its intended recipient. It can also lead to misunderstandings, misconstrued information, cause barriers and feelings of division, and lost confidence.

Here is how inserting business jargon and acronyms can cause problems in external communications:

• Unsuccessful message

If you don't clarify jargon and acronyms and translate these into an understanding language, this is going to immediately ensure your message is not delivered as intended which means your communication fails.

If the audience you want to convey a specific message can't decipher what you're saying, they aren't going to absorb any of what you've said and the communication effort will be fruitless.

It is better when communicating with people not familiar with industry speak to use general layman's terms so the information is easily understood.

• Misunderstandings and misconstrued information

Businesses that insert their company jargon and abbreviated acronyms into their external communications are likely to experience misinterpreted messages. In everyday conversation words generally have the same meaning, and if it varies, the context in which it is said typically qualifies any question.

Not the case with acronyms and jargon because the recipient will not have a way to try and translate based on context since the words are nonsensical to them. Instead they may try and derive their own interpretation and this quickly will turn to misunderstandings and misconstrued information.

In addition to diminishing communication, using lingo can be costly. Just imagine the consequences if a partner, supplier or other involved party misinterpreted your message!

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