Think and Talk - Received it as a forward thought of sharing with all of you. What you say matters. Whether youre voicing an idea during a meeting or making an offhand comment at lunch, everything you say adds to your overall character. In the new book Executive Presence: The Missing Link Between Merit and Success, Sylvia Ann Hewlett says three things signal whether a professional is leadership material: how they act, how they look, and how they speak. Speaking eloquently not only improves your daily communications, it builds up your overall persona and executive presence. Every verbal encounter is a vital opportunity to create and nurture a positive impression, Hewlett writes. Some phrases instantly undermine your authority and professionalism, and should be banned from the office. Here are 11 things you should never say at work: 1. Does that make sense? Instead of making sure youre understood, asking this tells the listener that you dont fully understand the idea yourself, career coach Tara Sophia Mohr told Refinery 29. Instead, she suggests asking, What are your thoughts? 2. Its not fair. Simply complaining about an injustice isnt going to change the situation. Whether its a troubling issue at work or a serious problem for the planet, the point in avoiding this phrase is to be proactive about the issues versus complaining, or worse, passively whining, Darlene Price, author of Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results told Forbes. 3. I havent had time. More often than not, this is simply not true, said Atle Skalleberg in a LinkedIn post. Whether you didnt make time for the task or forgot about it, Skalleberg suggests giving a time when it will be done instead of explaining why its late. 4. Just Adding just as a filler word in sentences, such as saying I just want to check if... or I just think that... may seem harmless, but it can detract from what youre saying. We insert justs because were worried about coming on too strong, says Mohr, but they make the speaker sound defensive, a little whiny, and tentative. Leave them out, and youll speak with more authority. 5. But I sent it in an email a week ago. If someone doesnt get back to you, its your job to follow up, says Skalleberg. Be proactive when communicating instead of letting the other person take the blame. 6. I hate... or Its so annoying when... Insults have no place in the office, especially when directed at a specific person or company practice. Not only does it reveal juvenile school-yard immaturity, its language that is liable and fire-able, says Price. 7. Thats not my responsibility. Even if its not your specific duty, stepping up to help shows that youre a team player and willing to go the extra mile. At the end of the day, were all responsible, Skalleberg says. 8. You should have... Chances are, these fault-finding words inflict feelings of blame and finger-pointing, Price says. She suggests using a positive approach instead, such as saying, In the future, I recommend... 9. I may be wrong, but... Price calls this kind of language discounting, meaning that it immediately reduces the impact of whatever youre about to say. Eliminate any prefacing phrase that demeans the importance of who you are or lessens the significance of what you contribute, she says. 10. Sorry, but... This implies that youre automatically being annoying. Dont apologize for taking up space, or for having something to say, says Mohr. 11. Actually... Prefacing sentences with this word, as in, Actually, its right over there, or Actually, you can do it this way, puts distance between you and the listener by hinting that they were somehow wrong, according to Carolyn Kopprasch, chief happiness officer at Buffer. Rephrase to create a more positive sentiment.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:01:04 +0000
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