In systems where communication is elevated to cult status, word precision gradually gives way to "pleasant sounding."
Formulations become softer, more evasive — and with them, the structure of responsibility dissolves.
When "Internal IT" becomes "Helpdesk teams," when "incident" becomes "minor hiccup," when "management failure" becomes "growth area" — the organization loses its ability to see itself honestly.
The Mechanics
Real functions get masked by "friendly" names. This reduces anxiety but blurs role boundaries.
It seems "clearer," but depth of context disappears. The problem isn't complexity — it's precision.
When words don't match reality, failures stop being addressable. Who's responsible when there's no word for what went wrong?
If everything is "good," the system doesn't learn and doesn't correct. Soft language creates hard blindspots.
The Symptom
The organization speaks smoothly — but works jaggedly. On the outside: positivity. Inside: a mess of blurred meanings and lost roles.
The antidote: restore precision — even if it sounds "harsher." Treat language as part of architecture. Don't let "soft" words hide structural failures.
Lose precision — lose control.