INTHEBLACK June 2026 - Magazine - Page 61
C L O S I N G T H E B O O KS
“Mate, is that
professional?”
Workplace communication does not sound the way it used to.
Emails are shorter, messages are quicker and the tone has
become friendlier. In Australia, phrases like “mate” and
“no worries” now appear in everyday work conversations.
What once felt strictly business now feels more relaxed
and approachable.
This reflects wider shifts in how people work. Hybrid work,
digital tools and flatter team structures are changing how
colleagues communicate.
INDIVIDUALITY AND CAMARADERIE
According to research from Barclays LifeSkills, messaging
platforms have made it easier for individuality to come
through in everyday exchanges. Ninety-seven per cent
of those aged 18 to 24 say they want to express their
personality in how they communicate at work, and 71 per cent
of workers believe younger employees are shaping how formal
workplace language should be.
The effect of casual language can be seen in daily
workplace behaviour. Many teams find that slang and informal
phrases help conversations flow faster and feel more natural.
It can break down barriers and build camaraderie. A survey
by Slack found that 70 per cent of employees prefer
colleagues who communicate in a more informal way instead
of sticking to a strictly professional tone.
However, informality has its limits. Slang is highly contextual
and does not always work across teams, departments
Slang is now part of everyday
work, but there is a line between
sounding approachable and
being misunderstood.
Words Sonakshi Babbar
or cultures. What signals friendliness in one setting may
create confusion or seem unprofessional in another. In global
workplaces, phrases that feel natural to Australians, such as
“no worries,” could be taken as vague or non-committal
by colleagues overseas.
SLANG AT WORK: FINE OR TOO MUCH?
Context is important. Insights from the University of Phoenix
suggest that in smaller, informal settings such as team chats,
slang can help build connection and make communication feel
more authentic. In more formal settings, especially with
clients or external partners, the same language may reduce
clarity, create misunderstandings or make the speaker appear
less authoritative.
Most employees seem to recognise this balance in practice.
The Barclays research suggests that it is appropriate for
professionals to adjust how they communicate depending
on who they are speaking to. Conversations with teammates
can stay relaxed, while communication with managers
or clients may become more neutral.
The line between approachable and inappropriate has
not disappeared — it has shifted. Informal language can
strengthen relationships within teams, but it does not always
carry the same meaning in formal, high-stakes or
cross-cultural settings.
In short, “mate” works in the break room or when having
a quick chat, but should be used with care in the boardroom.
intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au 61
