Last weekend I found myself nodding along to a conversation I didn’t understand while trying very hard not to look stupid.
I was standing in my yard talking to Gerard, the guy I’d hired to stop squirrels getting back into my attic. He clearly knew what needed doing. The problem was… I didn’t.
“Some drip edge here will help,” he said.
I nodded.
A few minutes later:
“Drip edge would solve that.”
Another nod.
Meanwhile, I was desperately trying to work out what drip edge meant from context.
Now, this might sound like a small thing, but that one unknown phrase had already changed what was happening in my head.
I wasn’t listening anymore. I was worrying because old houses rarely have simple fixes. I’d started imagining something custom-made, complicated, and expensive. Could this wait until next year? Could I do it in stages? Would this become another painful bill?
By the third mention, I finally admitted defeat.
“Gerard… I have absolutely no idea what drip edge is.”
Gerard explained it’s a metal strip between the roof and gutter that, among other things, helps to stop squirrels and rats squeezing through the gap. It comes in strips and takes about 15 minutes to install.
Instantly, my anxiety disappeared and we booked a date to get it done.
We use jargon without realising.
What struck me afterwards was that Gerard hadn’t explained it badly. The problem was he assumed I knew what he was talking about.
This happens in workplaces every day. Words that make perfect sense to people in our field but sound like a foreign language to everyone else. This has a name – jargon – but I call it expert language. Here’s the thing, expert language is useful. It helps specialists speak quickly and precisely with other specialists. It helps them communicate with a shared understanding.
We use jargon without realising, but the moment we talk to someone outside our field, that same language becomes a barrier. And it has real consequences.
- Customers hesitate instead of buying.
- Senior leaders reject proposals because the value isn’t clear.
- Teams disengage because meetings feel confusing instead of useful.
The tricky part? People rarely say, “I don’t understand.” Instead, they nod, just like I did with Gerard.
What expert language are you using without realising?
Try this: Take two minutes and write down the tools, processes, or terms you use most often at work.
Then ask yourself, “How would I explain this to someone with zero experience in my field?”
You’ll probably need seven words instead of one. But that extra effort is often the difference between people understanding your message… and politely nodding while feeling confused.