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Avoid these words to sound more confident

Cut out these annoying phrases at your office this year, says Kit Out My Office

While body language and appearance are incredibly important in face-to-face communication, you also have to speak with conviction. Whether we know it or not, we all judge people on their choice of words. Here are a few phrases you should avoid to sound more confident when youโ€™re speaking to your boss or clients.

โ€œJustโ€ ยญโ€“ This is a diminutive word that minimises the importance of what youโ€™re saying (remember how youโ€™re not โ€œjustโ€ a PA?). Avoid using it when speaking or sending an email, as it secretly means you think youโ€™re taking up somebodyโ€™s time or bothering them (โ€œIโ€™m โ€˜justโ€™ checking inโ€).

โ€œIโ€™m not sure, butโ€ฆโ€ โ€“ Take ownership of your ideas and never play them down by using a negative qualifier such as this. It doesnโ€™t matter if youโ€™re not an expert, only that youโ€™re confident enough to give your opinion.

โ€œI canโ€™tโ€ โ€“ โ€œCanโ€™tโ€ is a passive word, while โ€œwonโ€™tโ€ is active, so donโ€™t say you canโ€™t do something if itโ€™s a task you arenโ€™t willing to do. โ€œCanโ€™tโ€ implies you donโ€™t have the skill to do it, while โ€œwonโ€™tโ€ tells others youโ€™re setting boundaries.

โ€œWhat if weโ€ฆ?โ€ โ€“ Never add doubt to a plan you want to try by turning it into a question. Doing so makes others think youโ€™re asking for their opinion on the matter. Simply say: โ€œLetโ€™s do this.โ€

โ€œThat is like, so great!โ€ โ€“ It goes without saying that you should speak at a higher level at work than you do with friends. Donโ€™t slip into slang or โ€œValley girlโ€ talk, and try to avoid upspeak (where you make every statement sound like a question โ€“ also called vocal fry). It creates a lack of trust and makes people question your conviction.

Exclamations and emojis โ€“ These have no place in business communication. Adding extra emotion into a thought makes it seem as if youโ€™re desperate to come across as personable and enthusiastic. Itโ€™s unprofessional and inappropriate.

โ€œDoes that make sense?โ€ โ€“ Donโ€™t invite your audience to question whether youโ€™re properly explaining something. It implies you think youโ€™re an impostor or under qualified. If your colleagues are confused about something, let them ask questions.

Read the original article from Forbes at bit.ly/28Q0vWG