Each professional group has own specialized vocabulary. It consists of words often related to tools, technologies or processes. They make everyday communication smooth and effective. Yet, this way of communication is appropriate only for specific environments.

Sometimes IT professionals forget about their specialized vocabulary and use them in conversations with people from departments such as sales, marketing, HR, or management. Moreover, I often hear some technical words in talks with people who have nothing in common with IT. The most common view at this moment is the embarrassment drawing on people’s faces.

Would you like to talk to someone who doesn’t understand what you’re talking about?

Imagine the situation when you have a medical visit. The doctor gives you a diagnosis using complex medical vocabulary. He also adds some Latin words because he usually uses them with talks with other doctors. How would you feel? Is it your fault that you don’t understand him?

If you’re the programmer, you know – you cannot use a new word in the source code counting that the compiler will understand what you expect. You don’t do this with computers, so why do you try the same with people?

Language is a tool. If you use a tool dedicated to communication and people don’t understand you, you use it wrong. The key element of each conversation is the mutual understanding. It’s a pleasure moment when I feel, that you understand me and you feel, that I understand you. Let your conversation partner feel this way and the magic will happen.

I propose you an exercise. Try to explain hard things to people, using simple words. It could be more difficult than you expect but the outcomes could be outstanding.

Featured photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash.