"Flash Words and Acronyms"

"We need to update our SOP's to improve our KPI's and reduce LTI's..."

Wait—what?

In business, we use acronyms and jargon to communicate quickly. BNZ. ATM. PPE. H&S. The list goes on. For those in the know, it's efficient shorthand. For everyone else? It's a foreign language that can create confusion, mistakes, and costly rework.

The challenge: We assume everyone speaks our organisational dialect. They don't.  We’ve all seen (and sometimes been…) the person nodding in agreement when speakers pepper their presentations with management acronyms (SOP, KPI, MTI, TRIFR) and industry jargon without explanation; new employees, ESOL workers, and even long-time staff can be left guessing—and too often, guessing wrong (*ESOL: English for speakers of other languages).

The result?

• Misunderstood instructions
• Errors and rework
• Embarrassment and disengagement
• Safety risks when critical terms like PPE or LTI aren't clearly understood

The solution sounds simple: Create a culture where asking "What does that mean?" is welcomed, not awkward. In other words, people feel safe enough to practice the skill of pausing, and asking for clarification before proceeding with a task.

Like learning to text, understanding workplace acronyms takes practice. But unlike texting, the stakes are higher—miscommunication costs time, money, and sometimes safety.

HOT TIP: If you hear a flash word or acronym you don't understand—ask! And if you're the one using jargon, pause and explain. Clarity upfront prevents confusion and rework down the line.

When everyone understands the language, everyone can do their best work.

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