If you're a senior manager baffling your staff with meaningless jargon, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has a warning for you don't.

Phrases like think outside the box' and blue-sky thinking' will lose bosses support, according to John Philpott, the CIPD's chief economist.

Management speak has contributed to the high levels of distrust shown by staff towards bosses, he warns in his annual review.

Mr Philpott said: "If HR wants to start to make an even bigger impact in 2007, the profession could do no better than to open up internal lines of communication and aim to kill off incomprehensible management speak so as to get managers and employees talking sensibly together."

The spread of jargon was hindering the ability of managers to communicate initiatives and improve the productivity of their staff, according to Mr Philpott.

He said: "It's a major factor. If you can't communicate effectively or in ways that both parties understand then it's difficult to build trust.

"If employees don't know what you are saying to them they often interpret it as not in their interest."

His warning is backed by Mike Cartwright, policy director at Bradford Chamber of Commerce.

"Using words and phrases that might appear smart is no good if they end up confusing or alienating colleagues and customers," said Mr Cartwright.

"There are often different expressions used by managers in different settings, with sometimes an automatic shift into the jargon mode.

"That's fine if all parties are clear on the meanings, but not if it leads to frustration, doubt and mistrust. I'm also a little surprised that the issue keeps coming back up, as the use of jargon doesn't seem to be as prolific as a few years ago, with a couple of sectors probably more guilty than others of using it."

Professor Arthur Francis, Dean of the School of Management, at the University of Bradford, said: "I agree to the extent that in all professions and in all walks of life people use jargon which may be helpful to people in the profession but may be a barrier to those outside it."

Prof Francis said people often use the language to make themselves seem more important.

He said that some of the language used in offices made people think about the insecurities that Ricky Gervais demonstrates in TV comedy programme The Office.

But in defence of some management jargon, Prof Frances said sometimes the phrases were needed when managers needed to explain something complicated.

He quipped: "If I can use such a phrase don't let us throw the baby out with the bath water'."

e-mail: ali.davies@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

JARGON EXPLAINED

  • Thought grenade - explosive good ideas
  • Let's sunset that - bad ideas that are never mentioned again
  • Little r' me - a request for a private answer to an e-mail
  • Information touchpoint - old-fashioned meetings are replaced by touchpoints'
  • Blue sky thinking - the concept of opening one's mind as widely as possible during a brainstorming session
  • Singing from the same hymn sheet - phrase indicating aspiration for collective unity
  • Open up your kimono - means put your cards on the table'
WHAT YOU SAY

Roger Atkins, 59, of Allerton, Bradford, who works for Bradford Council: "I think it is unnecessary. It is done to create a sense of importance for the person who is using it. I mean, thinking outside the box, it doesn't actually mean anything does it?"

Helen Dowley, 25, of Bingley Road, Saltaire, who works in a finance office: "It's a bit patronising and they use the same phrase for everything. The big one in our office is it's moving forward', but everything is always moving forward'."

Mandy Hurst, 26, of Halifax, who works in a finance office: "I just find it belittling when people use it when they are talking to me. Sometimes managers don't listen to what you are saying, they just give you these scripted phrases, which don't mean a lot."

Julie Robinson, 39, of Baildon, Bradford, who works in recruitment: "To be perfectly honest I just prefer straight talking. I don't like people who don't stick to the point."

Bob Sutton, 37, of Idle, Bradford, who works in banking: "People use these different phrases instead of getting to the point and actually saying what they mean. Maybe people using these phrases are trying to impress other people in the office, or more to the point, other senior staff."

Andrew Lowe, 37, of Low Wood, Wilsden, who is a manager in a bank: "You mean phrases like singing from the same hymn sheet?' I am a manager and find myself slip into management speak. Sometimes when I do lapse into it I feel like I'm in The Office'."

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