Igniting Insights with Barry Binder: February 2026

February’s installment of Igniting Insights features an article from HUB Financial Services expert, Barry Binder, as he shares practical and proven tips from his 26-year tenure.

“It’s All Greek to Me” — And Why It Matters More Than We Think

Most of us know the phrase “It’s all Greek to me.” Today, we use it to mean “I don’t understand” or “That’s over my head.” But its roots go back to medieval European scribes who, when encountering Greek text they couldn’t read, simply wrote in the margins: “Graecum est, non legitur.” It is Greek; it cannot be read.

And honestly? I feel that way plenty of times. I’m sure you do too.

A few weeks ago, a friend was telling me about a woodworking project. He was talking about planes, mitres, battens—an entire universe of tools and techniques I had zero context for. When he finally paused and looked at me for a reaction, all I could say was, “Dude… that’s all Greek to me.”

Sound familiar?

That moment came back to me recently when a client‑partner shared a thoughtful reminder:

“…while insurance and what is being requested in these letters may seem perfectly clear to us, it is not necessarily the case for the customer. Insurance is just not that simple for many consumers. (It would seem a little ‘Greek’ to me if I was not in this business too.)”

And she’s right.

Where We Speak “Greek” Without Realizing It

Think about the terms we use every day:

Insurable Value. Deductible. TIBS. Mortgagee Clause. Named Storm. Comp & Collision. Parametric. Liability. HO6. IBNR. Mortgage Impairment. Loss Ratio. NOIC. Lienholder. Blanket Insurance. PFI. Countersign Date. Coinsurance. Replacement Cost Value.

To us, these are basic building blocks of our work. To many borrowers and even some client‑partners, they might as well be ancient Greek.

And when we speak in a language someone doesn’t understand, something happens—something subtle but damaging.

What Happens When We Speak “Greek”

Research backs this up. Studies from both The Ohio State University and the Harvard Business Review show that specialized jargon can make people feel excluded, increase stress, and reduce productivity.[i] Even when definitions are provided, the emotional impact remains: people feel like they don’t belong, even in conversations meant to help them.

So, when we use unfamiliar terminology, we risk:

  • Confusing or overwhelming people
  • Making them feel talked down to
  • Creating frustration or tension
  • Slowing down resolution
  • Erecting an unintentional “wall” between us and the people we’re trying to help

None of this is intentional. But it is real. It’s the opposite of what we want.

Can We Avoid Speaking “Greek”?

Not entirely. We work in a technical, highly regulated industry. Precision matters. Compliance matters. Clarity matters.

But here’s what also matters: Being understood.

Our role is not only to execute technical processes accurately, but also to ensure that the people we serve feel supported, respected, and understood.

And that’s where we have more control than we think.

Maybe the first step is simply awareness.

  • Do we know which terms might be “Greek” to someone else?
  • Do we fully understand the terms we use?
  • Can we explain them in plain, human language?
  • Do we notice when someone is struggling to translate our jargon?
  • Do we talk openly with colleagues and partners about where misunderstandings happen?
  • Are we willing to be multilingual—fluent in both our technical language and the language of everyday people?

Because when we can do that, we don’t just communicate better. We build trust. We reduce frustration. We make our work easier—for everyone involved.

This isn’t about oversimplifying our work. It’s about making our expertise accessible. It’s about ensuring that our communication builds trust rather than barriers. And it’s about remembering that clear and effective communication is a service in itself.

And maybe, just maybe, we make sure fewer people walk away thinking, “Well… that was all Greek to me.”

Want to Dig Deeper?

Exercise: Translating “Greek”

  • What’s Greek to you? Think of a time when someone used jargon you didn’t understand.
    • What was the term or phrase?
    • How did it make you feel?
    • What did you do at that moment?
    • Spot the Greek
  • Identify Our Jargon (Example: Insurable Value. Deductible. TIBS. Mortgagee Clause. Comp & Collision, etc.).
    • What terms might a borrower or client-partner not understand?
    • Can you rank these from mildly confusing to completely Greek?

  • From Greek to Plain English
    • Redefine our jargon.
      • How can you rephrase these into something that is easily understandable?
      • Can you rephrase these into something that would be understandable to someone with no insurance nor banking knowledge (ex: a high-school student)?
  • Become Multilingual
    • What’s one term you’ll be more mindful about explaining?
    • What’s one habit you’ll adopt to avoid speaking Greek?
    • How will you know when someone needs translation?

Here is related material to check out:

 

Questions? Reach out to Barry any time:

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[i] How To Overcome Jargon Barriers In Communication? – Speak Clearly | WordSCR, August 29, 2025