Group Jargon and Private Language Signal Power and Belonging—But They Also Foster Exclusion and Groupthink

In the glass-walled team room, Marcia launches into a plan for new KPIs and SLAs while promising TOFU content for SMBs—meanwhile, a newcomer sits silently, lost. Only later, in private, do they have the nerve to ask what these letters mean. A helpful peer explains the shorthand, but the sense of belonging has already wavered: jargon isn’t just efficient—it marks who is 'in' and who is still an outsider.

Sociolinguistics shows that every group invents private language—reinforcing unity but risking exclusion. The more a workplace depends on its own acronyms or slogans ('HubSpotty', 'delightion'), the easier it is for groupthink to take root. Unspoken rules discourage dissent and new ideas, making it harder to challenge stale habits or foster creativity.

Building a glossary, then bravely asking for clarity, not only speeds inclusion but chips away at hidden power structures, making work healthier and teams smarter.

This week, keep a running glossary in your notebook or phone of every mysterious acronym or slang you encounter—treat it as a learning adventure, not a test. At your next team check-in, pick a moment to gently ask for a jargon-free explanation, or nudge a more inclusive conversation if you see someone lost. Over time, you’ll find yourself building stronger connections and quietly nudging your group toward openness and clarity.