My husband makes fun of me for my buzzwords. The other day, I was wrapping up a Zoom call and said, “I’ve gotta hop.” He walked into the room, rolled his eyes, and said, “You’ve gotta what?”

And he was right. Somewhere along the way, I started speaking fluent industry jargon. “Touch base.” “Circle back.” “Hop off.” None of it actually means anything, but it sounds productive, doesn’t it?

We all do it. Especially in real estate, where buzzwords and filler sneak into our vocabulary and quietly dilute our communication.

Have you ever listened to someone speak and felt completely awake?
Not because they were loud, but because their words landed.

Think about the great communicators of the world: Michelle Obama, Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs. They all have different styles, but they share one skill: precision. Their words are chosen, not thrown. Their language makes complex things feel simple and human.

That is what intentional communication does. It connects. It builds trust. It moves people.

In real estate, your words are your tools. They shape how people feel about you, your advice, and your value.

But too often, agents lean on insider language that sounds important but says very little. We talk about “market absorption,” “luxury positioning,” and “velocity of deals.” We say “it’s a great time to buy” without explaining why.

It is the industry’s version of noise: words that sound smart but do not land.

Your clients are not inside this business every day. They do not care about jargon; they care about meaning. They want to understand, not decode.

When you simplify, you do not sound less intelligent. You sound confident.

Coaching Corner: The Precision Practice

This week, pay attention to the language you use.

With clients: Swap jargon for plain English.

• Instead of “inventory remains tight,” say “there are fewer homes on the market, which gives sellers more leverage.”
   
• Instead of “buyer demand is softening,” say “buyers are becoming pickier; good listings are still moving, but they have to be priced right.”

With your team: Replace filler with direction.

• “Let’s circle back” → “Let’s regroup Thursday at 10 to finalize the pricing strategy.”

With yourself: Turn big goals into small, specific actions.

• “I need to get better at prospecting.” → “I’ll reach out to five past clients today.
   

The great speakers of the world do not hide behind buzzwords. They speak with focus, presence, and intent.

You do not need to sound like an expert. You need to sound like a human being who knows what they are talking about.

Because simplicity is confidence. And confidence is contagious.