Now let’s put an end to all that old talk
The construction industry’s lingering problem is its harsh jargon. Students, tradespeople, and managers describe a reality that has improved—but still has a long way to go. Over the winter, all of us at Renta, in collaboration with Sila Snacket, have gone through their training program. At the Lidköping depot, they view Sila Snacket as an important reminder and an everyday tool.
The winter sun streams into the conference room at the Lidköping warehouse, where site manager Andreas, sales representative Patrik “Pösen,” and inside sales representative Therese are sitting down and discussing what they’re taking away from Sila Snacket.
“It’s about approaching the person in the right way. Some want to sit down and have a coffee, share a few stories, while others just want the machine and to leave. No matter what, it’s about meeting and acknowledging the other person where they are, whether that’s through verbal or nonverbal communication,” says Patrik “Pösen” Johansson, a sales representative in Lidköping.
Not everything was better in the past
For example, we used to have shorter vacations, longer workdays, and rotary dials on our phones. Things change, and we have to keep learning new things. We simply have to keep up. This also applies to language. Among all the wonderful old expressions, there are a few that haven’t aged well, and even though they were once coined with a twinkle in the eye, today they’re perceived more as a punch in the gut. We want everyone to feel comfortable and welcome at Renta. So it might be time to weed out the old lingo.
“We probably have a pretty positive way of talking, and I think we’ll continue to ‘miss the mark’ with our jokes. The important thing is to be aware and keep up. To understand that we see things a little differently,” says Therese Larsson, inside sales representative in Lidköping.
Unflattering statistics from Sila Snacket:
- 90% of students in high school vocational programs believe that the jargon used in the construction industry is more technical than in other industries.
- More than 90% of women and 55% of men feel that power tactics are used in the construction industry.
- Half of the female members of the Construction Managers Association have experienced sexual harassment, while 90% feel that the industry is unequal.
- 70% of all managers in the construction industry believe that discriminatory jokes exist within the industry.
– For us, it goes without saying that everyone should feel welcome at Renta, no matter who they are. A big step in that direction is that we all use respectful language. “Sila snacket” helps us raise awareness about how we talk to one another. Our industry is for everyone—it’s time we started acting that way, too,” says Rebecca Långström, Quality and Environmental Manager.
About Sila Snacket
Sila Snacket is an initiative that works to create more inclusive workplaces with a more respectful vocabulary, helping everyone feel comfortable, happy, and welcome. The initiative and its accompanying symbol have their origins in the construction industry, which has a long tradition of exclusionary slang and tough attitudes, but can certainly be applied to any industry experiencing problems with its jargon. Hand on heart, what’s the real situation in your industry?
