Are there specific words and phrases that career-minded managers should avoid at all costs? Yes indeed! says Darlene Price, author of the book Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results. She offers 10 phrases that you should never utter.
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To successfully communicate, says Price (www.wellsaid.com), you have to learn to present yourself and your message effectively. You’ve got to know your audience members and tailor your content to meet their needs. And you’ve got to be sincere, natural, enthusiastic and passionate, maintain good eye contact, and be calm and polite.
AND, you need to learn that there are specific words and phrases that are certain to cause damage. If you want to maximize your success as you climb the career ladder and avoid slipping, here are Price’s top 10 phrases to stop using in the workplace.
1. AVOID: "I can’t do that" or "That’s impossible" or "That can’t be done."
Even though you may feel this way on the inside, these negative phrases are perceived by others as pessimistic, unconstructive, and even stubborn. Your boss, peers, and customers most likely want to hear what CAN be done. Instead say, "I’ll be glad to check on that for you" or "What I can do is …" or "Because of company policy, what I CAN do is …".
2. AVOID: "You should have …" or "You could have …" or You ought to have …”
The words should, could, and ought imply blame, finger-pointing, and fault. There’s no quicker way to upset a boss, colleague, or customer than to suggest that he or she is guilty of something (even if it’s true). Instead, take a collaborative approach. "Please help me understand why …" or "Next time, may we adopt an alternative approach …" or "I understand your challenges; let’s resolve this together …".
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3. AVOID: "That’s not my job" or "I don’t get paid enough for this" or "That’s not my problem."
If you’re asked to do something by your boss, a coworker, or a customer, it’s because it’s important to that person. Therefore, as a team player, goal number one is to figure out how to help the person get it accomplished. Even if it’s not in your job description, saying so displays a career-limiting bad attitude. For example, if your boss lays an unreasonable request on you, reply by saying, "I’ll be glad to help you accomplish that. Given my current tasks of A, B, and C, which one of these would you like to place on the back burner while I work on this new assignment?" This clearly communicates priority, reminds the boss of your current workload, and subtly implies realistic expectations.
4. AVOID: "I may be wrong, but …" or “This may be a dumb question, but …" or "I’m not sure about this, but …" or ‘This may be a silly idea, but …"
Eliminate any prefacing phrase that demeans or negates what you’re about the say. Instead, get rid of the self-deprecating phrase, drop the “but,” and make your comment.
5. AVOID: "I’ll try."
Imagine your boss says to you, "I need your proposal by 10 a.m. tomorrow for a customer meeting." Your reply is, "OK. I’ll try to get it finished." The word implies the possibility it may not get finished. It presupposes possible failure. I say, "I’ll get it finished" or "I’ll have it on your desk by 9 a.m."
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6. AVOID: "I think …"
Which of these two statements do you find to be more effective? "I think you might like this new solution we offer" or "I believe (or I’m confident) you’re going to like this new solution we offer." The difference in wording is fairly subtle. However, the message communicated to your customer can be profound. Reread each sentence. The first one contains two weak words, "think" and "might." These words make you sound unsure or insecure about the message and subtly undermine your credibility. Notice how the second sentence is confident and strong. Replace the word "think" with "believe" and strike the tentative "might." That’s a statement from someone who believes in what he or she is saying.
In tomorrow’s Advisor, four more phrases to avoid, plus an introduction to the easy-to-use HR audit guide that’s checklist based.