Management Tip: A common language for innovation

Don't let jargon get in the way when different functional groups within the same organization come together on projects, says Harvard Business Review.

"In most organizations, functional groups use their own languages with specific terms to talk about the work they do.

If you bring people from different parts of the organization together to innovate, it's possible this jargon will get in the way. Help them understand when they are saying the same thing.

A finance person may use the phrase 'financial modeling,' while a design person says 'rapid prototyping.' They are both talking about necessary tasks that are part of exploring opportunities. Challenge them to build a common language and to use terms that resonate with everyone on the team."

-Today's management tip was adapted from "Eight Communication Traps That Foil Innovation" by Georgia Everse.