Want to sound more confident? Avoid these 11 words and phrases that make you look weak
In such a aggressive world, the very last thing you might want to do is undercut your self. However that is what quite a lot of us are doing after we communicate in ways that make us sound much less assured, much less decided, and fewer certain of ourselves.
However there’s an efficient answer: Swap out weak phrases and phrases for ones that can make you come throughout as extra skilled and succesful.
This is what psychologists, linguists, recruiters and CEOs say you need to keep away from utilizing if you wish to get forward, together with easy replacements that can make an enormous distinction in how you might be perceived:
1. “Does that make sense?”
What to say as a substitute: “What are your ideas?” or “I would like your enter on this.”
In the event you ask “Does that make any sense?” after you have completed sharing a thought, you are instantly giving the impression that you just’re not satisfied your self, that your thought is perhaps incomplete.
Fairly than looking for validation or approval, you need to be asking the listener or reader for his or her opinions in your thought.
2. “Possibly we must always strive …”
What to say as a substitute: “Let’s strive…” or “It is a good suggestion to strive…”
Up till the mid-Nineteenth century, “possibly” was written as two phrases — “could” and “be” — which makes it clear that it actually refers to one thing that may occur, however won’t.
That is fairly wishy-washy once you apply it to your personal concepts or solutions. Both you consider in what you are speaking about, or you do not.
3. “I believe this may …”
What to say as a substitute: “I consider this may …”
It is a minor distinction, however a sound one: “I believe” sounds weaker than “I consider,” and is a bit more uncertain, as when you’re saying one thing may work, however you are undecided.
“I consider” places you accountable for the thought and conveys a relaxed surety. And even when you’re not so certain in any respect, nobody must know that!
4. “I am not optimistic, however …” or “I am undecided, however …”
What to say as a substitute: No matter you had been going to say after the “however”
You need not add disclaimers. Equally, when you begin your sentence with “I do know this is perhaps a silly query, however …” or “I do not need to sound pushy, however …,” you are undermining your self.
It is a straightforward rule that bears repeating: Do not put your self down. Ever.
5. “I simply needed to the touch base …”
What to say as a substitute: “I needed to the touch base …”
What number of instances have you ever began an electronic mail with “Simply needed to ask you if …”? The issue on this case is that the “simply” is a softener — virtually an apology, as when you’re saying, “I hate to trouble you, however …”
There is a time and a spot for that, however enterprise communication usually is not.
6. “For sure …”
What to say as a substitute: Nothing
“For sure” comes from a protracted line of ironic phrases the place you open a subject by saying you are not going to say one thing, however then say it anyway. So why do it?
7. “For my part …”
What to say as a substitute: Nothing
Reduce to the chase and take away the pointless, weak intros. Whoever is listening to you or studying what you have written is aware of that it is your opinion or your perception. That is why you are telling them no matter you are telling them!
8. “For what it is value …”
What to say as a substitute: Nothing
That is one other intro that makes it sound as when you’re not satisfied your self about what you are saying. And when you’re not satisfied about your level, why ought to anybody else be?
9. “Sorry”
What to say as a substitute: “Excuse me”
It is superb to apologize when you’ve carried out one thing improper and must come clean with it, however too many individuals toss in a “sorry” and wind up weakening their picture. Why say “Sorry to trouble you,” when a easy “Excuse me” is shorter, snappier and fewer self-deprecating?
Psychologists suggest that folks are likely to suppose those that overuse “I am sorry” are ineffectual and lack confidence. In the event you want extra convincing, understand that from the thirteenth century on, the phrase “sorry” was used to imply “wretched” or “nugatory.”
One other related one to keep away from: “I hate to ask, however …” Simply ask!
10. “[X] was developed to extend [X].”
What to say as a substitute: “I developed [X] to extend [X].”
“I developed [X] to extend [X]” sounds extra assured as a result of it makes use of the energetic voice as a substitute of passive voice.
With the passive voice, the topic has one thing carried out to it; with the energetic, the topic is doing the motion. So when you created a brand new advertising marketing campaign to extend model consciousness, why not use the energetic voice and take credit score for it up entrance?
11. “… if you already know what I imply”
What to say as a substitute: Nothing
We have seen so many individuals finish sentences with “if you already know what I imply,” or its truncated near-twin “know what I imply?” In the event you’re considered one of them, cease now. It is a filler phrase which means nothing — and truly irritates lots of people.
Alongside the identical strains, keep away from beginning sentences with puffy phrases like “It is necessary to notice that …” All you are doing is including ineffective phrases. Know what we imply?
Kathy and Ross Petras are the brother-and-sister co-authors of “Awkword Moments,” “You’re Saying It Wrong” and “That Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means.” Their work has been featured in The New York Instances, The Washington Put up and Harvard Enterprise Overview. Comply with them on Twitter @kandrpetras.
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