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Six Verbs That Make You Sound Weak
'Need'
When we use "I need" at the start of a sentence it sounds like pleading rather than empowered. It makes us sound needy.
Swap "I need" with "Please" to sound polite and confident.
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Key Ideas
Weak Words Used Often
Every word you use while working expresses something about your personal brand, your confidence, state of mind, authority and knowledge. The verbs that we put in sentences are key to our image at work.
Weak words used often can end up projecting us as weak.
'Think'
We use "I think: often while at work, but it's a dysfunctional addition to a start of a sentence, that while ok to use occasionally in trivial situations, is to be avoided in meetings or one-on-ones.
Try replacing it with "I'm confident".
'Need'
When we use "I need" at the start of a sentence it sounds like pleading rather than empowered. It makes us sound needy.
Swap "I need" with "Please" to sound polite and confident.
'Want'
"I want" sounds emotional and lacking in confidence.
It is better to use a conviction instead of a 'want', and replacing it with "I'm convinced" or "I believe".
'Guess'
Guessing conveys a lack of surety. We use it to avoid lying or exaggerating, but it conveys our lack of knowledge.
Reframe that with '" expect" or "should" to convey confidence.
'Hope'
"I hope" carries a big 'If', and it feels the speaker has no control over the outcome, conveying uncertainty, and can feel like the speaker is untrusting of the other person.
Replace "I hope" with "I look forward to" or a similar more confident-sounding phrase.
'Suppose'
Using 'I suppose so' indicates detachment and lack of interest. Use a more enthusiastic response like "Definitely".
Language is a powerful force and the words we use travel fast and can affect our reputation and influence. Using the right words can make our power and confidence soar high.
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Avoid using ‘ I need..’
Whenever we hear the ‘I need…’ words, we all tend to get a bit irritated by this way of being requested to provide something that always seems of the most utter importance.
On the other hand, there are expressions which could easily replace the ‘ I need…’ while giving the other person the impression that everything is under control.
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Getting Negative Feedback
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It’s Not Personal
Unless it is completely uncalled for, negative feedback generally has the intention of informing us about our areas of improvement. If feedback isn’t provided, you may not grow and improve. If no one tells you that you are doing something wrong, you will keep doing it wrongly forever.
Providing timely feedback may be a sign that the manager cares and wants you to improve.
Don’t Shoot The Messenger
One should not be defensive when provided with negative feedback, and understand that it is for our own good.
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