Dr. Travis BradburyOn the pages of TalentSmartEQ, he is a well-known speaker and consultant and co-author of the book “Emotional Intelligence 2.0” advises things not to say at work so as not to ruin your chances of a bright career. here they are.
1. “It’s not fair.”
Everyone knows that life is not fair. However, saying out loud “that’s not fair” indicates that you are not in complete contact with reality, which is not black and white. If you judge something from a black/white perspective, you may appear naive and immature. If you don’t want to be seen this way, try to stick to the facts. It is better to use logical and constructive arguments in the conversation. Instead of “It’s not fair,” you could say, “I noticed Piotr got this big project that I’ve been relying on so much. Can you tell me what influenced your decision? I’d like to know your opinion so I know what else you can work on on it.” “.
2. ‘We’ve always done this’
Just because we’ve been doing something a certain way for years doesn’t mean it’s the best solution. We live in a time of technological progress, in which new methods and more modern solutions appear. In this case, the process from six months ago may already be outdated. So, before we say we’ve always done this, let’s think about what this phrase says about ourselves. These words indicate that you are negative about change or that you are lazy. In addition, the boss’s boss may wonder why you want to work in a less modern and less ideal way and reject the idea of improving something.
3. “No problem”
If someone asked you for something or thanked you for something and you said “no problem,” you’re indicating that their request might be a problem, Bradbury says. Thus, people can feel as if they are imposing themselves. If you want to sound like someone who enjoys doing their jobs, you can say, “It was my pleasure.”
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4. “It might be a stupid idea…”, “I would ask a stupid question”
“It might be a stupid idea… I’ll ask a stupid question” – these are statements that can question your credibility and put you in a negative light. People who use them are judged as insecure, with low self-esteem. If you’re not sure what to say, no one else will. And if you don’t really know something, say something like, “I don’t have that knowledge right now, but I’ll get this information and let you know right away.”
5. “It will only take a minute.”
In fact, by saying “it only takes a minute”, are you sure you can do it in 60 seconds? If not, why would you say that? Moreover, by addressing a person in this way, you indicate that you are in a hurry to perform the assigned tasks. The best solution is to replace the cliché with a note: it won’t take long.
6. “I’ll try to do it”
When receiving a task, try not to say that you will try to complete it. Much better than “I will” than “I will”. By saying “I will try” you are implying that you are not really sure if you can handle the specific activity, and this undermines your competence and belief in your abilities.
7. “He: lazy/incompetent/stupid.”
Talking negatively about co-workers is not received well in any workplace. The wise do not share their evaluation of others with the environment. They keep these ideas to themselves.
8. “Not within the scope of my duties”
If the supervisor assigns us tasks beyond the scope of duties, the following statement: “This is not in my job description” is not the best answer. This approach puts us in a negative light – a person who only wants to do the minimum necessary at work: as much as is necessary They get paid. Instead, it is best to ask your boss to talk about your role in the company and, if necessary, suggest that it may be helpful to update your job description, advises Dr. Bradbury.
9. “It’s not my fault.”
Pointing fingers at others doesn’t sound good. Be the person responsible – if you are wrong, admit or stick to the facts and explain what happened if you have nothing to hide. A quick reassurance that “it’s not my fault” sounds immature, will lower your standing in the band and also requires a guilty party.
10. “I can’t”
Confident people with a professional approach won’t say they can’t do something. They will always look for another way to get the job done. So, before we start complaining about our inability to do something, it’s best to try it first. In many cases, it turns out that we can handle something. However, if we do not know how to do it, we can say it in another way. Instead of “I can’t do this analysis,” say, “I don’t know how to do this type of analysis yet. Is there anyone who can show me so I can do it myself next time?”
11. “I hate this job”
People don’t like people who complain about everything. Employees who keep repeating over and over how much they hate what they do are especially hated. The manager will quickly notice which employees will perform their duties with passion and which employees are always pessimistic and have no heart for work.
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