Very accurate. Vocabulary shapes perception, even if it’s incredibly subtle.

Ever find yourself using a turn of phrase or expression, only to realize that you’re starting to sound exactly the same as your closest colleagues, bosses, mentors? Subconscious verbal “copy-cat” syndromes in action.

I suspect that we do it, without realizing it, partly because we’ve seen that particular turn of phrase or expression resonate with a particular audience and we want that same result.

For VCs surrounded by other VCs in the same bubble, of course the language used becomes similar, and perhaps an invisible barrier to others.

I do this all the time with my team. In fact, when talking to another female leader from outside the tech industry, I was once called out for using a particularly male / non inclusive expression. Much to my surprise, I didn’t even realize this …. So we’re all guilty of this.

Great post though, thanks for highlighting this, Bryce.