Business speak help needed

[Corporatefilterneeded]

I read the thread about all the business slang now used with a bit of a wry nod but it seems no longer acceptable to write in normal English. I'm writing my goals and I feel like I need Google translate for my wording, which looks like an idiot has written it.
I am good at my job but awful at dragging in the lingo that people seem to like - synergy, alignment, reaching out, etc etc
Is there a tool I can put my basic English in and have it translated to business world?? Help. I look thick when I'm not. I just don't write or speak this stuff well

I can find any number of piss taking videos. I need a middle ground which makes me sound current I guess. Help!!!

No tool unfortunately

What are you trying to wordsmith? Your personal goals / for a team? Description or specific measure?

If you seriously want to do this, I think it will need a human as you'll likely only find piss-taking 'translation' apps.

Could you ask a colleague to help you make it sound more dynamic?

Sorry, I mean:

Reach out to a colleague to collaborate on a granular-level review of your output, through a lens of impactfulness.

Just write clearly - business jargon isn’t a must and a lot of people are actively irritated by it. People who use it very liberally seem to enjoy doing so; I don’t think anyone is compelled to use it.

However, some of it just works. I use align and alignment a lot. They make sense and aren’t fussy. Reaching out is different as it’s annoyingly earnest, emotive and is longer than ‘contacting’.

My wording around learning a new area is just so....basic.
For example one goal is to educate myself on a new product line via face to face customer visits , hands on learning and cross collaboration. But it sounds very early 2000s!!

@ClariceQuiff - almost about that level

Learning is the area where you really should stick to clear plain language. Be that breath of fresh air who doesn't write using the worst type of corporate speak.

Yup it’s better to be clear on 1) what and 2) why (impact) and don’t overwhelm with too many goals - better to over deliver

@Corporatefilterneeded

My wording around learning a new area is just so....basic. For example one goal is to educate myself on a new product line via face to face customer visits , hands on learning and cross collaboration. But it sounds very early 2000s!!

I really don't see a reason to translate that intelligible goal into gobbledygook. The only thing I would do is try to make it more specific and measurable (or do you have bullet points underneath that do this?) I.e. what is the hands on learning, and with whom will you collaborate? How will you measure that your 'education' is complete - e.g. 'to a level where I can confidently deputise for the product owner'?

You don't need to "corporate speak" this at all. I'd go so far as to say the clearer, the better.

I'm working on a development plan with a team member and we've applied the STAR technique.
What's the Situation now?
What's the Task?
What Action will you take?
What Results will you see?

So you don't know about X product line, you need to learn more about it. You'll do this by doing xyz. This will mean you can now do abc.

Also means at appraisal time, you've captured everything to demonstrate what you've achieved.

@ClariceQuiff yup. I'll add my deliverables and specifics underneath.
It's my own sense of not being quite on a par with the language used by others which niggles me but I suppose that it it's clear and easy to understand then it's not a problem per se !
"What does success look like?" is used a lot as a question at my place. Align I can manage. Is synergy used any more?! I need to listen to a recorded meeting and make my list of the best- loved buzzwords maybe. I'm not without brains as my dad used to say, but want my writing to represent this. Plus I'm peri and struggle to retrieve normal words a lot, never mind buzz words! 😖

Like the pp said with 'align' sometimes a word that happens to be a buzzword will do the job you want, in which case it's fine to use it, but if you insert them for the sake of it, you'll risk a lack of clarity.

I'm guessing you'll be having a one-to-one with your manager to sign off your objectives, so that might be an opportunity to talk about your wording - ask for your manager's help to make your wording more 'dynamic' 'contemporary' 'impactful' or whatever, if they think it's needed.

Thanks for your help @ClariceQuiff Yes, they'll be signed off and I can ask for help. I'm possibly being rather self-critical as I've had no issues with my previous submissions but I see a step up to a new language now and don't want to be found lacking. I'll write and review ! Thank you

I might be being cynical, but often those corporate phrases seem to me to be fluff and bluster to hide what is very little substance underneath.

I was taught in my first role the value of plain English, avoiding jargon, and using the language and tone the client understands. Its served me well enough till now. If I'm ever challenged (which is rare) I just highlight that plain clear language makes communication more accessible for all. And surely that's what we should be aiming for? faux smile, head tilt etc.