No matter
how talented you are or what you've accomplished, there are certain phrases
that instantly change the way people see you and can forever cast you in a
negative light.
These phrases are so loaded with negative implications that
they undermine careers in short order.
These
phrases carry special power: they have an uncanny ability to make you look bad
even when the words are true.
Worst of
all, there's no taking them back once they slip out.
How many of these career killers have you heard around the
office lately?
1. "It's not fair"
1. "It's not fair"
Everyone knows that life isn't fair. Saying it's
not fair suggests
that you think life is supposed to be fair, which makes you look immature and
naïve.
If you don't want to make yourself look bad, you need to stick
to the facts, stay constructive, and leave your interpretation out of it. For
instance, you could say, "I noticed that you assigned Ann that big project
I was hoping for. Would you mind telling me what went into that decision? I'd
like to know why you thought I wasn't a good fit, so that I can work on
improving those skills."
2. "This is the way it's always been
done"
Technology-fueled change is happening so fast that even a
six-month-old process could be outdated. Saying this
is the way it's always been done not
only makes you sound lazy and resistant to change, but it could make your boss
wonder why you haven't tried to improve things on your own. If you really are
doing things the way they've always been done, there's almost certainly a
better way.
3. "No problem"
When someone asks you to do something or thanks you for doing
something, and you tell them no problem, you're implying that
their request should have been a problem. This makes people feel as though
they've imposed upon you.
What you
want to do instead is to show people that you're happy to do your job. Say
something like "It was my pleasure" or "I'll be happy to take
care of that." It's a subtle difference in language, but one that has a
huge impact on people.
4. "I think .../This may be a silly idea
.../I'm going to ask a stupid question"
These
overly passive phrases instantly erode your credibility. Even if you follow
these phrases with a great idea, they suggest that you lack confidence, which
makes the people you're speaking to lose confidence in you.
Don't be
your own worst critic. If you're not confident in what you're saying, no one
else will be either. And, if you really don't know something, say, "I
don't have that information right now, but I'll find out and get right back to
you."
5. "This will only take a minute"
Saying
that something only takes a minute undermines your skills and gives the
impression that you rush through tasks. Unless you're literally going to
complete the task in 60 seconds, feel free to say that it won't take long, but
don't make it sound as though the task can be completed any sooner than it can
actually be finished.
6. "I'll try"
Just like the word think, try sounds tentative and suggests that you
lack confidence in your ability to execute the task. Take full ownership of
your capabilities. If you're asked to do something, either commit to doing it
or offer an alternative, but don't say that you'll try because it sounds like
you won't try all that hard.
7. "He's lazy/incompetent/a jerk"
7. "He's lazy/incompetent/a jerk"
There is
no upside to making a disparaging remark about a colleague. If your remark is
accurate, everybody already knows it, so there's no need to point it out. If
your remark is inaccurate, you're the one who ends up looking like a jerk.
There will
always be rude or incompetent people in any workplace, and chances are that
everyone knows who they are. If you don't have the power to help them improve
or to fire them, then you have nothing to gain by broadcasting their
ineptitude. Announcing your colleague's incompetence comes across as an
insecure attempt to make you look better. Your callousness will inevitably come
back to haunt you in the form of your coworkers' negative opinions of you.
8. "That's not in my job
description"
This often
sarcastic phrase makes you sound as though you're only willing to do the bare
minimum required to keep getting a paycheck, which is a bad thing if you like
job security.
If your
boss asks you to do something that you feel is inappropriate for your position
(as opposed to morally or ethically inappropriate), the best move is to
complete the task eagerly. Later, schedule a conversation with your boss to
discuss your role in the company and whether your job description needs an
update. This ensures that you avoid looking petty. It also enables you and your
boss to develop a long-term understanding of what you should and shouldn't be
doing.
9. "It's not my fault"
It's never
a good idea to cast blame. Be accountable. If you had any role--no matter how
small--in whatever went wrong, own it. If not, offer an objective,
dispassionate explanation of what happened. Stick to the facts, and let your
boss and colleagues draw their own conclusions about who's to blame.
The moment
you start pointing fingers is the moment people start seeing you as someone who
lacks accountability for their actions. This makes people nervous. Some will
avoid working with you altogether, and others will strike first and blame you
when something goes wrong.
10. "I can't"
I can't is it's not my fault's twisted sister. People don't like to hear I
can't because they
think it means I won't. Saying I
can't suggests that
you're not willing to do what it takes to get the job done.
If you really can't do something because you truly lack the
necessary skills, you need to offer an alternative solution. Instead
of saying what you can't do, say what you cando.
For example, instead of saying "I can't stay late tonight," say
"I can come in early tomorrow morning. Will that work?" Instead of
"I can't run those numbers," say "I don't yet know how to run
that type of analysis. Is there someone who can show me so that I can do it on
my own next time?"
11. "I hate this job"
The last
thing anyone wants to hear at work is someone complaining about how much they
hate their job. Doing so labels you as a negative person and brings down the
morale of the group. Bosses are quick to catch on to naysayers who drag down
morale, and they know that there are always enthusiastic replacements waiting
just around the corner.
Avoiding these phrases from your vocabulary will help a great deal. They have a tendency to
sneak up on you, so you're going to have to catch yourself until you've
solidified the habit of not saying them.
Courtesy: Yahoo