11
Words and Phrases Successful People Refuse to Say
If the thought is father or mother to the
deed, so too is the word -- and that's why the words you choose make a major
impact on your motivation, performance, and level of success.
Here's a guest
post from Ryan Robinson, an entrepreneur and marketer who teaches people how to create
meaningful self-employed careers. (His online courses "Launching a Business While Working" and "Writing a Winning Freelance Proposal" can teach you how to start and grow your own business while
working a full-time job.)
Here's Ryan:
We often take them for granted, but the words
we use have a very real, often unnoticed, effect on our ability to become
successful in business.
A study by The
Economist found that nearly all (97 percent) of business executives have
experienced misunderstandings due to poor communication, while 83 percent have
actually seen negative business outcomes arise from something as simple as a poor choice of words. On the
other hand, businesses and individuals with more mature communication profiles
have much stronger chances of achieving higher levels of efficiency, flexibility, and
profitability.
It's not difficult to conclude that the words
we choose to use, how we position ourselves during negotiations, and even how
we speak to ourselves will have a lasting impact on our lives.
The sooner you can identify and eliminate the
words and phrases you use that drain your team's motivation, diminish your
customers' interest in your business, and erode your own sense of
self-confidence, the quicker you'll be able to start making the positive
changes you seek.
Naturally, much will depend on the
circumstances, but here are the words I've found to be most counterproductive
to achieving success in business.
1. "I should have."
We all make mistakes. After all, a career in
business means taking risks, trying new things, and pushing the limits on what
we're capable of. Don't waste time and energy lamenting over what you should
have done. Learn your lesson, move on, and do it right the next time.
2. "I could."
As much as possible, speak in realistic
absolutes. Instead of "I could," choose to use a more confident
statement like "I will." This shows your commitment to taking the
action you're contemplating, and goes to great lengths to eliminate any hint of
doubt.
3. "I would have."
It's great (and
necessary) to take time to reflect on your achievements, failures, and everything in between, when
it's a meaningful experience. However, once you internalize the takeaways
you've learned from each experience, it's time to apply them toward your
future, rather than lose sleep about the past.
4. "I'm not sure."
Being honest is a wonderful virtue, but
saying you're "not sure" frequently will cast doubt on your
competence and subject matter expertise. Instead, focus on anticipating the
scenarios heading your way, so that you can do your research and be as informed
as possible. You'll achieve much higher levels of certainty by making yourself
an expert in your domain.
5. Curse words.
Swearing has
its purpose, but is often very out of context in the workplace. Some successful
entrepreneurs like Gary Vaynerchuk use cuss words all the time. But doing so in a way that people remember you only
for the vulgar words you use will neither help your personality nor
increase your bottom line. Moreover, Michael Hyatt shows us that excess
profanity can trigger some serious consequences for your
business.
6. "Maybe if."
There's only one way to find out, right?
After considering possible solutions and workarounds to your business
challenges, make your shortlist, rank the most promising options, and try them
in that order, as cost-effectively as possible. Eliminate your "maybe
ifs" and instead, put them to action.
7. "I think."
In many cases, I've found that introducing a
statement with the phrase "I think" connotes a sense of uncertainty
and lack of confidence, inviting a deluge of alternative opinions. Use the
phrase when encouraging open conversation, but avoid it at all costs when
making an authoritative statement.
8. Unnecessary acronyms, industry jargon, and
cliches.
I'm a huge advocate of honing your domain
knowledge and becoming an expert within your field. However, that status
doesn't give you license to invoke obscure technical terms, industry jargon,
and business cliches every chance you get, just to show off your know-how. These
words aren't going to magically make you sound more knowledgeable. On the
contrary, they tend to alienate people, highlight self-doubt, and open you up
to more opportunities for misusing said terms.
9. "When I get the chance,"
"ASAP," and other vague time frames.
When setting deadlines or schedules for your
work, remember that you're building a milestone for yourself. Being specific
about dates and times will go a long way in helping both you and your
customers. Going with a statement like "Give me two days to formulate an
alternative," versus "I'll try to sort this out ASAP," conveys a
sense of refined professionalism and helps make your customers (and co-workers
or employees) more confident in you.
10. "Probably."
Employees and customers alike prefer clarity
and certainty over ambiguity and doubt. When speaking or writing, make your
statements definitive so that your audience will understand exactly what you
mean and what you intend to do. Leave no room for alternative interpretations.
11. "Really," "very," and
other emphasis-boosting words.
Less is more in this scenario. If you often
use "really" or "very" to make your statements more
emphatic, you may want to consider unlearning the habit. Using filler words
like this tends to dilute the impact of your message when done liberally.
Remember, the trick to presenting a positive
self-image is to refrain from using words that show doubt, insecurity, a lack
of confidence, or negativity in business.
BY JEFF HADEN
http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/11-words-and-phrases-successful-people-refuse-to-use.html?cid=em01014week49a
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