Getting the point across…or not
On a recent, rare visit to that famous, arched, Irish restaurant, my fabulous wife and I wanted a “McFlurry.” This is a relatively harmless blended ice-milk treat. Now, everyone knows that the speakers at drive-throughs press the limits of verbal communication. The speaker dutifully informed us of the McFlurries available: “M&M, Reece’s Peanut Butter Cup, Take Five and Swamp Gzzshczzjh.”
“What was that last one?” my wife inquired.
The speaker responded, “oh, Swamp Sludge,” as though that was sufficient explanation. Now if they had said McSwamp McSludge, that would have been a sufficient explanation. After a pause just long enough to a) communicate that we were total morons for having to ask, and b) assume that we would soon ask the follow up question, the speaker helpfully squalked: “It’s brownie bits and green M&Ms–you know, Swamp Sludge.”
It wasn’t real swamp sludge, after all. We settled for Reece’s PBCs and M&Ms.
Quick leadership lesson: Don’t assume that your customers and stakeholders know your internal jargon. It is perfectly acceptable to drop Market-eese and speak English.