« Mentoring in a Multi-Generational Workplace | Main | In the age of technology, it’s not about age at all »
What happens when you and your clients aren’t speaking the same language?
By spfaff | March 9, 2010
As communicators, we’re constantly surrounded by buzzwords and jargon that no one outside of our companies or communications teams may understand. So isn’t it fun when we all get to talk to each other? We can “build on” each other’s perspectives, we can “to your point” each other to death, and we can talk ad nauseum about “deliverables” and “action items.”
But what happens when your client doesn’t use the same vocabulary?
I had this happen awhile back and it was instructive in how to try to have a conversation about communications strategy without resorting to jargon. The disconnect in this case was the use of “press release.” The client I was working with kept referring to wanting a “press release” when that wasn’t my recommended approach. Or, for that matter, what I thought he really wanted either but it was the term he was most familiar with. So what do you do? Do you give in and say yes, and then do what you really think is best? Or do you take a step back and try to define the outcome you want to achieve, strip out the jargon or confusing language, and agree on the approach.
In this case, I took the latter tack and eventually finished what was a challenging phone call relieved that it seemed that we were finally “on the same page.” Until I got his follow up email, reiterating that he was expecting the press release by Monday.
Ah, such is the life of a consultant.
Tags:Topics: Perspectives | No Comments »