Phrases That Will Kill Your Career

In general, it's essential to be mindful of your words and to communicate in a way that is respectful, professional, and open to collaboration. Here are some phrases I’ve heard around the office (even some I’ve used myself) and better ways to express them.

1. "Does that make sense?" —> "What questions can I answer for you?"

2. "| could be wrong, but..." —> "What are your thoughts on this?"

3. "Sorry, I’ll fix that right now." —> "Thank you for catching this, or thanks for the feedback!"

4. "What do you want me to do?" —> "I recommend we do [X] because [Y]. What are your thoughts?"

5. "It was no big deal" —> "Thank you! I really appreciate that."

6. "Sorry to bother you" —> "When you have a minute, can I get your opinion on?"

7. "That's not my problem." —> "I'm sorry, but I don't have the expertise or resources to address that issue. Can we brainstorm potential solutions together or consider reaching out to someone who might be able to help?"

8. "I don't have time for this." —> "I have a lot on my plate at the moment, but I'll do my best to prioritize this task. Is there a specific deadline you need me to meet?"

9. "That's not possible.” —> “That's an interesting idea, but I'm not sure it's feasible given our current resources and constraints. Can you help me understand the challenges we might face in implementing it and how we might overcome them?"

10. (When you should know the answer but don't): "I'm not sure..." —> "I don't know, but I'll find out and get back to you by [date]."