Business jargon – the 10 words to avoid at all costs

“To leverage this opportunity for ROI we need to value add through R&D and core competencies, let’s touch base offline.”

Confused? So’s your client. Acronyms and business jargon are gathering speed and taking over everyday office chat. If you assume everyone is au fait with “thought showers” and “blue sky thinking” you could well be alienating (and irritating) people the moment you open your mouth.

We asked our readers which words and phrases send them into meltdown, and this is what they came up with:

Disruptive

It’s not just us, everyone knows disruptive is a really annoying word. A repeat offender in the world of press releases, it’s become ubiquitous lately – but what does it mean? Well, nothing really.

Use instead: new, innovative

Synergy

Here’s another one that’s nothing more than hot air.

Use instead: work together

Annual leave

Ok, so everyone understands this, but I’ve never understood why we can’t just say holiday.

Use instead: holiday.

Upskill

As a word, training was clearly too prosaic, so a nifty new verbal mashup was created.

Use instead: training

Value add

A perfectly reasonable phrase has been switched round, causing readers’ hackles to rise in the process.

Use instead: add value, improve

Blue sky thinking

A blue sky has none of those pesky clouds to limit your boundless creativity … or something like that.

Use instead: original, creative

Generation Y/Z/Millennials

Targeting the 18 to 24 age group? Just say what you mean, and everyone will be grateful.

Use instead: age

Leverage

People are using this pointless word in their droves. Please don’t use “utilise” either.

Use instead: use

Dynamic

Probably the least offensive term on this list, but to be avoided nonetheless. Understand what a “dynamic website” or “dynamic strategy” is? Didn’t think so.

Use instead: exciting/new

Touch base

One of many phrases stolen from the world of sport (see below) – but this one is particularly irritating on account of its vagueness. It’s not as concrete as meeting up, and is guaranteed to be a waste of time.

Use instead: meet

And here’s what you said

Have you been offended by a particularly toxic example of business jargon? Share it with us in the comments section

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