For the average professional, corporate buzzwords tend to take the workplace by storm, but in cleared environments, entire conversations often happen through acronyms. The use of endless acronyms may feel elitist or exclusive, but there are several main reasons they’re used as a primary form of communication for professionals with security clearance.
Why Acronyms?
Being able to have a substantial conversation in just a few words keeps issues concealed and private without the risk of breaches in confidentiality. In cleared environments, efficiency is almost always the name of the game, so communicating with brevity is an advantage. The shorthand language can also send an automatic signal of who is in the vetted group and who isn’t, which reduces confusion and keeps things crystal clear.
Do Cleared Professionals Have to Learn Them?
Learning this second language may feel intimidating, but it’s an inevitable part of developing as a cleared professional for the long haul. Acronyms can even be considered a survival component in the cleared world – if every word or phrase were spelled out, meetings would take an eternity, ultimately slowing down processes and deadlines. And when the stakes are high, acronyms help cut miscommunication down to a minimum.
Can Acronyms Be Learned Quickly?
If you’re not up to speed on the lingo, you’ll likely fall behind and feel out of place amidst vital conversations and meetings. The number of acronyms used on a day-to-day basis can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to feel left out. Like learning any new “language,” the best way to commit acronyms to memory is to immerse yourself in the culture of them. Take the quiz above to familiarize yourself with some of the most widely recognized acronyms; your life may start to feel a bit like alphabet soup, but you’ll be able to contribute more effectively to conversations and step into leadership roles in the future.
