When you start work, you’ll quickly discover that some companies love a dramatic phrase. Suddenly, you’re not writing a plan – you’re delivering a Mission Statement. You’re not fixing a process – you’re driving a Strategic Transformation. You’re not attending a meeting – you’re joining a Stakeholder Alignment Workshop.
Honestly, do they think they’re James Bond?
Most jobs are quite simple when translated into normal human language. A mission statement is usually just, “Here’s what we’re trying to do.” A strategic initiative often means, “We’ve got a problem and we’d like to fix it.” And stakeholder engagement translates neatly as, “Let’s talk to the people affected.”
New starters can easily be seduced by the polished LinkedIn dialect, sprinkling words like synergy, optimisation and thought leadership into every sentence. Resist the temptation.
The people who get things done usually speak plainly. They explain ideas clearly, ask sensible questions and don’t need a corporate thesaurus to make a point.
Remember: if your mum wouldn’t understand what you’ve just said, it might not be communication – it might be corporate cosplay.Keep it simple. James Bond has enough missions already.
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