Flaccid Corporate Jargon Just Can’t Compete with Online Fun

"I am pleased to announce the expansion of our toolbox to incorporate dynamic interfacing elements that will allow us to further maximize existing and future relationships with our most profitable customers."

Whoever writes stuff like this should be shot. Or slapped around a bit, anyway. Or chastised profusely.

But every day we pour the same ingredients into the key message sausage grinder and churn out more pablum that supports our company’s strategic direction, without actually saying much of anything.

Colin McKay compares the flaccid, zombie-like writing of many internal communications hacks with the quick growth of employee groups on Facebook. The hacks are found wanting.

He asks:

"…what do internal comms teams have to offer in the face of self-assembling employee groups?

"Well, except for pre-approved corporate messaging, I mean?"

Companies may want to channel the creativity of their workforces, but too often they serve up jargon-filled official newsletters and websites. Employees plow through so much crap in a day, their eyes glaze over.

So when they find a Facebook group of current and former employees sharing photos and stories about what people are up to, it’s an easy decision to join. You can bet any flacks who try to join in with employee engagement jargon in a Facebook group get ostracized darn quick.

Tags: facebook, social networks, colin mckay, internal communications, corporate, business, companies, jargon, key messages