Forbes has compiled 13 of the simplest quotes that, despite their truthfulness and sincerity, can harm your image and negatively affect your career.
In the office, it is important for any employee to consciously choose words and phrases so as not to put himself or the interlocutor in a difficult position. Based on the book by American Darlene Price, Well Said! Presentations and conversations that pay off”, Forbes has compiled 13 of the simplest quotes that, despite their truthfulness and sincerity, can harm your image and negatively affect your career.
"It's not fair"
She got a raise, but you didn't. His merits were recognized, but yours were not. Some people have food, while others are starving. Injustice occurs at work and around the world every day. Instead of saying, “This is not fair,” gather evidence, formulate the problem, and present compelling evidence to the person or group of people who can help you.
“This is not my problem”, “This is not my job”, “I am not paid for this”
Carefree, detached and self-serving behavior quickly limits promotion. This does not mean that you have to immediately agree to everything. But the word "no" should be pronounced in response to a request only after everything has been carefully weighed. You shouldn't answer, for example: “You must be joking. I don't get paid for this. " Much better on the interlocutor will be affected by the phrase: “I will be happy to help. Now I am working on questions A, B, C. Tell me, which one should I postpone while I carry out your new assignment? " This way you can clearly express your willingness to work as a team and your willingness to help, but at the same time remind your boss of your current job and that he needs to set realistic tasks.
"It seems to me …" (when communicating with a client)
Here are two quotes on the same topic: “I think our company could be a good partner for you” and “I believe / I know / I am confident that our company will be a good partner for you”. Only the beginning of the phrase is different, but the second forms a clear opinion of the client about you and your company.
"It's my pleasure"
When someone thanks you, the polite and gracious answer is "Please." This word implies that you enjoyed helping the person and that you accept their gratitude. And the phrase “Not at all”, common in ordinary conversations, may also carry a similar meaning, but it is not felt in it. The phrase "Not at all", in fact, rejects the gratitude of the other person and implies that a similar situation in other circumstances could be problematic. If you want to be perceived as a well-mannered and tactful person in business and social communication, then respond to gratitude with the words "Please".
I will try
Imagine that today is April 30th and you ask your friend, who is going to go to the post office, to send your tax return. If he says “Okay, I'll try,” then you will most likely decide that you will have to send the letter yourself. Why? Yes, because this phrase contains the possibility of non-fulfillment of the request. In your conversations, especially with leaders, replace the word "try" with the word "will do."
"He's a jerk", "She's lazy", "I have a shit job", "How I hate this company"
Nothing ruins a career faster than rough grades. Expressions like "He's a jerk" not only demonstrate your immaturity, but can also backfire and be perceived as an attempt to stir up a fight. Try to avoid negative evaluative statements that will inevitably lead to a negative assessment of yourself. If you really have complaints about someone or something, then express them tactfully, restrained and neutral.
But we already did it
Leaders value innovation, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills in their people, and this phrase immediately shows that you have exactly the opposite qualities: commitment to the past, inflexibility and narrow thinking. Instead of these words, say: “Wow, interesting! And how will it work? " or “An unexpected approach. Let's discuss the pros and cons.
"It's impossible", "I can't do anything"
Are you sure about that? Have you really researched every possible solution and exhausted the entire list? When you use such negative phrases, your words create a pessimistic, passive, and even hopeless image. And this approach is rarely appreciated at work, because employers notice, appreciate and encourage the attitude to perform any tasks. Try to say something like this: "I will gladly check it again", "Let's discuss what we can do in these conditions" or "I can do the following."
Hey you guys
Save this address for friendly informal conversations and try to avoid it at work. When talking to colleagues, whether they are your boss, employees, or clients, you can use the terms “your team,” “your organization,” or simply “you.”
"Maybe I'm wrong, but …", "Maybe it's stupid, but …"
Expressions like these diminish the meaning of what follows and diminish your credibility. Don't say, "Maybe this is stupid, but I thought, shouldn't we hold a quarterly meeting on the Internet, do you think?" Instead, try to justify your recommendation: "To reduce travel costs and be more efficient, I suggest running a quarterly meeting over the internet."
"You should have …", "You should have …"
With a high degree of probability, such words will be perceived as a desire to shame someone and to blame him. Ideally, the work environment should create a sense of equality, facilitate communication and teamwork. Instead of shaming someone (even if they are to blame), develop a more productive, non-judgmental approach. Say, "Next time, to ensure better planning, please let me know immediately" or "In the future, I would advise …"
"Don't you think?", "Don't you think?", "So OK?"
These phrases are usually perceived as evading a straightforward answer and are good if you really need approval or are looking for support. If your task is to confidently state the order and get people to look at the problem the way you want, formulate your statement or proposal with confidence. Imagine if an investment professional says, “Don't you think this is a good way to invest your money? I will do so if you approve. " Instead, you would probably enjoy hearing something like, “This strategy is a smart investment that can bring long-term benefits. With your permission, I will transfer the money before 5 pm today.”
"I don't have time for this now", "I'm too busy now"
Even if you really don't have the time, no one wants to feel less important. To strengthen a positive relationship and show that you empathize with the person, say better, “I’m happy to talk to you about this after I meet in the morning. May I drop by your office at about one in the afternoon?"
Photo: Hallenser flickr.com/mein-halle
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