The Corporate Buzzwords Australians Want Gone in 2026

If you have ever cringed at phrases like 'circle back' or scrolled past a painfully obvious LinkedIn humblebrag, you are not alone.

A new Honcho study reveals Australians are officially over corporate jargon and performative professionalism, and 2026 is shaping up to be the year people want plain language back at work.

The study analysed Reddit discussions from r/LinkedInLunatics between 4 and 12 December 2025. Using data scraping tools, text and image posts were reviewed, normalised and analysed to identify the most frequently criticised corporate buzzwords and LinkedIn post types.

Why this matters in 2026

Workplace language is meant to bring people together, but overused jargon often does the opposite. Instead of clarity, it creates distance and frustration. As businesses head into 2026, communication style is becoming just as important as strategy, particularly for teams focused on trust, culture and engagement.

Honcho Chief Operating Officer Miralda Ishkhanian explains why this matters.

"Workplace language is meant to connect people, but it can often create a barrier, swapping authentic meaning with fancy-sounding jargon. This study shows Australians are craving more honesty and less buzz."

30 Most Hated Corporate Jargon

From ‘circle back’ to ‘synergy’ and ‘please advise’, the results reveal exactly which phrases are driving office eye rolls across the country. Ranked in descending order, ‘circle back’ took out the top spot as the most disliked corporate phrase in Australia.

Even words that once sounded innovative, such as ‘pivot’ and ‘bandwidth’, have now become cultural icks. Newer expressions like ‘cadence’ and ‘double click’ show that the problem is not disappearing; it is simply evolving.

It is not just office language under fire. LinkedIn has also attracted strong opinions.

The study found that ‘humblebrags’ were the most disliked LinkedIn post type, followed closely by hustle-and-grind content and dramatic life lesson posts. Leadership clichés and overly emotional stories rounded out the list of behaviours Australians would rather leave behind.

“When our work vocabulary becomes robotic, our workplaces do too,” says Ishkhanian.

“This list is a reminder that clarity, humour and honesty go a lot further than buzzwords ever could.”

What businesses can take from this

For businesses heading into 2026, the message is simple. Speak like a human. Clear, genuine communication builds trust faster than polished jargon or performative posts ever will.

At Honcho, we help Australians build credible, professional businesses without the fluff. From business registration to communication tools that help you show up professionally, we make it easier to connect with customers in a way that feels authentic.

If you are starting or growing a business and want to stand out for the right reasons, we are here to help you get the basics right.