Jargon is big turn-off for employees

Bosses who use management jargon fail to impress more than half of their staff, according to a survey by pollsters YouGov.

Around 54% of employees questioned to mark the fifteenth anniversary of best practice accreditation body Investors in People (IIP) had a low opinion of colleagues who use management jargon.

More than a third (39%) felt the use of 'managementspeak' betrayed a lack of confidence, and almost one in five (18%) thought those who did so were untrustworthy or trying to cover something up.

The research also suggested that jargon could create a barrier between managers and their teams.

Demonstrating the potential desk divide, 55% of senior managers thought jargon was harmless while 42% of employees thought it created misunderstandings about roles and responsibilities.

Six out of 10 employees said they would prefer no jargon at all at work, yet 39% said its use was on the rise.

Commenting on the findings, released today on the first day of 'Investors in People Week', IIP director Nicola Clark, said: "The research gives bosses an invaluable insight into the impact of management jargon on the workplace.

"While it can be a useful shorthand at times, managers need to be more alert to when and how they use it."