Phrases to Avoid If You Want to Exude Confidence and Get Ahead

Have you ever felt like you’re saying the wrong thing at work? You try to get your point across to your boss or a fellow employee about a big, new idea, and instead of them giving you the excitement that you were hoping for, they blankly stare at you, wondering what the heck you’re talking about.

Your idea may be the next “Big Thing,” but the way you communicate it to others may lack professionalism. Those ideas will either sink or fly based on your verbiage and tone. While “uhm,” “I just,” and “I’m sorry” may be part of your everyday language, including them in your professional conversations can make others mistake your competency as inadequate at best.

But don’t fret. We’re here to help you so you can flourish in your career — and maybe even impress your tough boss (no promises). Here are phrases you should avoid saying at work if you want to exude confidence and get ahead.

While these “filler” words were OK to say back when you were a teenager, you want to stay away from using them when you’re in the office.

However, trying to stop saying “like” and “uhm” can feel like an addiction you just can’t quit.

Thankfully, there are a few tricks to help you stop once and for all such as keeping your sentences short, avoiding distractions, and not having your hands in your pockets.

Let’s be real: You’re not bothering anyone if you have to ask someone a question that pertains to their job.

When you say this to your boss or colleague, you’re allowing them to have complete control over your actions, which can permit them to turn your request down. Instead, say, “Excuse me, do you have a few moments to discuss a matter?” or “Whenever you have a few moments, I would like to discuss something with you.”

These two phrases show competence while still letting you have control in the conversation.