Cut the Corporate-Speak and Watch Your Ideas Finally Land

The most influential messages don’t come dressed in three-piece suits of jargon. Whether it’s a team leader guiding a project or a student proposing a group assignment, clear communication always trumps complexity. Take the example of two project managers: Michelle writes daily updates that are pages long, each packed with acronyms and roundabout sentences. Jamie, on the other hand, keeps things direct—one paragraph, three bullet points, no filler. Over time, people find themselves tuning in for Jamie’s emails and quietly skimming or skipping Michelle’s. Colleagues notice the difference: deadlines get met, questions get answered, and misunderstandings drop off.

In customer service, too, companies that use straightforward language—'We’ll fix this now' instead of 'Your experience is valued and your concerns have been logged'—win trust and repeat business. Simplicity isn’t laziness; it often takes more discipline and revision. It’s easy to hide behind fluff; it takes guts to get to the point.

Science backs this up: research in cognitive load shows that people are more likely to remember, act on, and share ideas when the language is concise and direct. Jargon makes people tune out. Even classic public speakers like Churchill and Clinton understood that brevity and simplicity win hearts (and elections).

When the complex becomes clear, people listen. When you end with a question, you invite discussion and new possibilities. So cut the fluff—short and simple often resonates for years.

As you prepare your next message—whether it's an email, announcement, or proposal—challenge yourself to boil it down to three clear points and strip out any jargon or filler phrases. Swap business-speak for plain, friendly language, making every word count, and finish by asking your audience directly for their feedback or questions. Try this out with your next piece of communication and notice how quickly people lean in, respond, and actually remember what you said.