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Original poster

Using more formal vocabulary at work

75 replies

Bellex · 27/12/2021 22:57

I graduated over 5 years ago and spent majority of that time working in start ups/young companies that were less formal, direct and for straight to the point. I’ve now moved into a store at blue chip corporate company. I’m in a relative high grade for my age and they seem to be happy with my work. One thing they’ve asked me to work on is being more formal in meeting and using better words.

I’ve already made some improvement by not using certain phases that don’t seem to be seen as formal enough but how else can I improve? Is there somewhere where I can work on learning new words to use as alternatives?

OP posts:
takenforgrantednana · 28/12/2021 08:49

@Bellex

I graduated over 5 years ago and spent majority of that time working in start ups/young companies that were less formal, direct and for straight to the point. I’ve now moved into a store at blue chip corporate company. I’m in a relative high grade for my age and they seem to be happy with my work. One thing they’ve asked me to work on is being more formal in meeting and using better words.

I’ve already made some improvement by not using certain phases that don’t seem to be seen as formal enough but how else can I improve? Is there somewhere where I can work on learning new words to use as alternatives?

just speak clearly with your thoughts in order, resist using annoying trendy terms such as reaching out! i find that one particularly annoying!

make sure you dont mumble

mildtomoderate · 28/12/2021 08:56

Do you say 'Like...' a lot, or 'basically' at the start of your sentences?

Replying 'Okie Dokey' to a work email request is incredibly informal. I'm sure you would have learnt about formality at school, and how to tailor your written communication to the recipient/occasion. It's a thing I taught kids to do in Year 7 right through to Sixth Form, and these were kids who spoke MLE.

catfunk · 28/12/2021 08:57

Hi op, where is your accent from? I wonder if you have a more regional accent which sometimes highlights this sort of thing even more (I ask this as a northerner myself)

'This will cause a slip in the schedule' doesn't sound like a great sentence to me tbh.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/12/2021 09:00

Cut down on the slang
Become more precise in your written work.
Use more commas! (appropriately).

PhilCornwall1 · 28/12/2021 09:10

Don't use the management/bullshit phrases, such as, "reaching out", "signposting", "heads up" and "touching base".

We've had some new PMs join at work and one of them wants to be signposted to everything and is always reaching out.

The normal phrases work just as well.

Dontlookdownmuch · 28/12/2021 09:17

I wonder whether you have been too seduced by the blue-chip nature of this company and haven't considered the cultural fit. We work with blue chip companies and they are a varied bunch.
We have recently done a review of a blue-chip organisation's massive failing and part of the findings was that their overly formal, hierarchical culture caused them to make hugely costly mistakes, no one wanted to deliver bad news to their boss, it was a bitter pill to swallow.
Some of the blue-chip companies we work with are shit hot too - the directors have high expectations, an open door, often swears frequently (men and women) and have the respect of all their team. There are definitely companies we'd prefer to not work for again - everything they touch has disaster written all over it and the theme that is constant is that they focus on the wrong things - they hide bad news from their seniors due to a sick work culture and it's all about silos, appearances and saving face. I would be looking for a new job.

Cattitudes · 28/12/2021 09:18

Avoid using any contractions in your communication I'm becomes I am for example.

whyohwhyohwhyohwhywhy · 28/12/2021 09:26

I know this isn't what you raised here, but do you look smart and hold yourself well? I notice people who talk in a slangy way often also look underdressed (or inappropriately dressed) and slouch at the table

whyohwhyohwhyohwhywhy · 28/12/2021 09:27

Sorry pressed too soon

I think it is harder to give feedback on that as it feels much more personal,but could that be part of it?

Also, Do you over use team communication channels? Too much chat is also annoying for others

SwanShaped · 28/12/2021 09:32

You don’t seem informal in your writing. I reckon the person doesn’t like your message.

FawnFrenchieMum · 28/12/2021 09:48

The things I picked up very quickly were a ‘slip’ in schedule, that’s not a word we would use. Also moving from a risk to an issue. Issue to me sounds less server then a risk, it would become a ‘blocker’ for us.

The best thing to do IMO is to mirror the language you heard from exec’s / directors etc.

I recently moved from a financial services to an American company and the language is totally different, I had to spend a while listening and learning. A lot of it annoyed the hell out of me for the first few weeks but now I find myself saying it in daily life.

RampantIvy · 28/12/2021 10:02

The pack has actions, Rag status, schedules, financials/ RAID, every slide flags changes week on week, some further detail on any major risks/ issues that I’m mitigating that reflect the progress and actions.

Most of this mean nothing to me. Is it industry specific? And what is a product owner? BTW your posts is very articulate, and if your written communications are as articulate as this then maybe they don’t like what they are hearing rather than how you say it.

JaninaDuszejko · 28/12/2021 10:19

I think @Dontlookdownmuch has it right having read more of the thread. It's a bad cultural fit and nothing you've said you do would be considered problematic for a PM in my organisation (we constantly talk about how big a slip in the schedule there will be, always want issues highlighted, swear about things constantly, and don't care if someone dresses scruffily as long as they are shit hot at their job and regularly type things like 'okey dokey'). If it's a traditional hierarchical organisation then being female and / or having a regional accent may also be held against you and may explain their concerns about your formality, if you're not a privately educated white male you'll always be considered too 'informal'. Look for another job and think about cultural fit at the interviews. It's not you, it's them.

JaninaDuszejko · 28/12/2021 10:22

The pack has actions, Rag status, schedules, financials/ RAID, every slide flags changes week on week, some further detail on any major risks/ issues that I’m mitigating that reflect the progress and actions.

Most of this mean nothing to me. Is it industry specific? And what is a product owner?

Are you a PM or work closely with PMs? I don't know what industry the OP is in and I recognise all these terms despite not being a PM.

Etinoxaurus · 28/12/2021 10:28

@RepentBirthingPersonFucker

Hmm I wonder if they don't like the message so they are looking for ways to have a dig at you. I also wonder if the same comment would be made to a man?
My reading as well. Your tone is perfect, they don’t like the message
fellrunner85 · 28/12/2021 10:34

*The pack has actions, Rag status, schedules, financials/ RAID, every slide flags changes week on week, some further detail on any major risks/ issues that I’m mitigating that reflect the progress and actions.

Most of this mean nothing to me. Is it industry specific? And what is a product owner?*

No, this isn't industry-specific. I'd put good money on the OP being in a completely different sector to me, but this is all very standard stuff.

Dontlookdownmuch · 28/12/2021 11:24

@FrancescaContini

Avoid using meaningless “fillers” when talking, such as like / sort of / kind of / you know…etc. Be really precise when you talk otherwise people start to switch off or get irritated or not take you seriously.

Listen to Radio 4.

For example they need product owners, every week come to the meeting with no names. I said this has now moved from a risk to an issue for my department I think we need to create a clear action with timescales on how we resolve this. Please can we commit to coming back to this meeting with clear product owners in two weeks time. Happy to support this action on the requirements for a product owner. Dh (ex PwC partner) suggested reading the Economist to get a view on the best way to communicate in using modern business language, I then read your extract above, he said - there isn't a problem! I say move jobs!
Hollyhocksarenotmessy · 28/12/2021 12:02

One last idea - how do you start your emails?

I've noticed a lot of younger people start work emails with 'Hey' as the greeting. It makes my teeth grind.

FrancescaContini · 28/12/2021 12:17

@Hollyhocksarenotmessy

One last idea - how do you start your emails?

I've noticed a lot of younger people start work emails with 'Hey' as the greeting. It makes my teeth grind.

Agree, it’s really unprofessional.
Dontlookdownmuch · 28/12/2021 13:17

@Hollyhocksarenotmessy

One last idea - how do you start your emails?

I've noticed a lot of younger people start work emails with 'Hey' as the greeting. It makes my teeth grind.

I’ve never received a Hey! Curious as to what you prefer?
Alayalaya · 28/12/2021 13:23

Saying okie dokie is too informal and unprofessional. But I don’t see any other examples of what you’ve actually said that has com across badly, so it’s difficult to identify what you’re doing wrong. Perhaps working on correct grammar and punctuation might help.

Dontlookdownmuch · 28/12/2021 16:09

'This will cause a slip in the schedule' doesn't sound like a great sentence to me tbh. What's wrong with it? The message is clear, what more do you want?

PhilCornwall1 · 28/12/2021 16:16

@Dontlookdownmuch

'This will cause a slip in the schedule' doesn't sound like a great sentence to me tbh. What's wrong with it? The message is clear, what more do you want?
  • A "slip" of how long?
  • What is the impact on upcoming tasks?
  • Depending on the "slippage" are there going to be any resourcing issues?
  • Are there any other tasks that can be brought forward?
  • Is the slippage our fault or the clients, if ours, is it going to incur financial penalties?
Dontlookdownmuch · 28/12/2021 16:25

@PhilCornwall1 I thought the OP was using slip to lighten the impact of her function's wrongdoing, hence she'd be required to avoid the details you suggest she should have included.

PhilCornwall1 · 28/12/2021 16:36

[quote Dontlookdownmuch]@PhilCornwall1 I thought the OP was using slip to lighten the impact of her function's wrongdoing, hence she'd be required to avoid the details you suggest she should have included.[/quote]
I'd need to be knowing all that and more, regardless of which side had buggered up. If I hear slip, delay or whatever word is used, I expect it to be followed up with a tonne of information.