Taking the BS out of Business Speak

Introduction to Business Speak (BS)

• Business speak refers to jargon and terms used in professional settings.
• Example: At home you'd say "Are you ready to go?" vs. at work, "Is it scalable, can you give me a baseline ETA for departure?"
• Originating example: The speaker's wife, a chief marketing officer, used terms like "boil the ocean," "tiger team," and "SWOT analysis."
• Speaker wrote a BS dictionary.

Main Point: Addressing the Rise of Business Speak

• The core argument: Business speak is growing in the globalized economy.
• CTA (Call to Action): Make business speak clearer and avoid unnecessary jargon.
• Presentation Goals: Simplify communication, make BS less prevalent.

Three Ways to Take the BS Out of Business Speak

1. Use BS to be Inclusive, Not Exclusive

• Example: Understanding "EBITDA"
  • Common definitions gained more audience agreement
• Observation: Business speak is the language of the elite, often excluding others.
• Research shows most