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You worked hard to get your job, and you’re probably making goals to earn a raise, promotion, or both this year. On top of presentations and sales reports and other performance indicators, much of your success on the job depends upon how you interact with your boss. You want to make a good impression and show that you’re worthy of being trusted with your job — and could be trusted to take on more responsibilities. Despite all your good intentions, a quick slip of the tongue could quickly tarnish your boss’ perception of you and make it more difficult to get along.
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A word or two along the way might not seem like a big deal. But the language you use in the office definitely has an impact on whether your boss views you as a leader and someone to be trusted. (We’re not talking about four-letter words here, although consistent use of those probably won’t get you very far ahead, either.) “In speaking with hundreds of executives and senior leaders over the past twenty years, certain phrases consistently come up as career-limiting phrases that jeopardize one’s professional image and potential for promotion,” Darlene Price, author of Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results, told Forbes.
One quick mistake is likely reparable. But consistent habits with certain words and phrases will have their negative effects. “There are certain comments and questions based on negative perspectives that can set you back with your boss,” Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert, told Business Insider. “If they continue unabated, these phrases can sabotage an otherwise great job.” In general, you want to avoid vague phrases or adjectives that don’t have evidence to support them.
Using the word “awesome” or other descriptors that don’t actually mean anything is an example of this, writes Georges Le Nigen, chief revenue officer for global tech company Powa. Instead, Le Nigen suggests, you want to use quantifying and objective data to describe why the deal is a great one. By saying the deal is the largest in company history and sharing how much money it will make the company, you prove its value without using words like “awesome” or “fantastic” that mean very little without context.
On top of that, there’s several other words or phrases that are good to avoid. Cut these five words and phrases from your workplace vocabulary and you’ll be on the right path to making a better impression with your boss.
Follow @newslexpointAvoid saying these 5 Words to Your Boss
1). “Can’t”
If you had parents or mentors in your life who encouraged you along the way, they probably tried to help you take “I can’t” out of your vocabulary early in life. The phrase has detrimental effects in your own life, but take on new consequences when you use the phrase at work. There’s a reason that “can-do” attitudes are looked upon favorably.
Using the word “can’t” shows your lack of confidence and an unwillingness to take chances, Taylor said, neither of which will earn you any points with your boss. In a LinkedIn post where bosses tell of the worst things they’ve had employees tell them, “I can’t” makes the list. “I don’t want to hear excuses ever! We focus on hiring can-do, positive, creative employees with passion, drive and determination,” said Kuba Jewgieniew, founder and CEO of Realty ONE Group.
The word is especially detrimental if it takes the form of “I can’t work with this person.” Author Bernard Marr reminds us that interpersonal problems aren’t your boss’ issue. “You can ask your boss to help mediate a tough situation, but you don’t want to make it sound like an ultimatum,” Marr writes.
2). “Hope”
It’s good to have an optimistic attitude and look forward to successes in the future. But while hope might spring eternal in your personal goals, you don’t want to use the word with your boss.
In his post on LinkedIn, Le Nigen uses the example of saying something like “I hope we get the contract signed by tomorrow.” When you use terminology like this, he argues, it “shows basically that your level of confidence about the signature of this new contract relies more on divine intervention than careful planning and clear understanding of timelines.”
If you’re sure the contract is going to get signed, say so and explain why — you just wrapped up a call with the signee, you got confirmation from their lawyers, etc. If you’re not sure, talk about the steps taken so far and what the plan is to complete the contract.
Le Nigen notes that people who use “I hope” phrases also tend to rely heavily on “I believe” statements, too. Cut those out, and frame your conversations around facts and action plans instead of leaving your business up to the universe.
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