Kathy and Ross Petras, brother-and-sister co-authors of “Awkord Moments” share some wise adds and deletes to your often-used phrases that will increase your executive presence.
Phrases NOT to say!
- “For what it’s worth.” Replace with nothing. If it’s not worth saying you would not say it at all. Please.
- “If you know what I mean.” Replace with nothing. You already know what you mean because you are saying what you mean!
- “In my opinion.” Replace with nothing. It is your opinion!
- “Needless to say.” Self-explanatory here. Stop saying this phrase!
Phrases that need a quick fix
❌ Weak: “I think this would”
✅ Strong: “I believe this would”
➜ Tip – Changing “think” to “believe” is a tiny tweak with a huge payoff.
❌ Weak: “I just wanted to touch base”
✅ Strong: “I wanted to touch base”
➜ Tip – delete the word “just”. Sounds apologetic.
❌ Weak: “Sorry”
✅ Strong: “Excuse me”
➜ Tip – Save apologies for when you need to own up for something you’ve done wrong. Use “excuse me” when your grocery cart runs into someone else’s cart, ETC. Kathy and Ross Petras ask, “Why say ‘Sorry to bother you,’ when a simple ‘Excuse me’ is shorter, snappier and less self-deprecating?”
Swap or delete these phrases to convey more executive presence, for what it’s worth.
#communication #speakforyourself #KarenCortellReisman #PowerPhrases
When I taught public speaking, my students learned on day one to avoid many of those phrases. I also detested, ‘bear with me,’ which means, “Because I didn’t prepare properly, this won’t be interesting, but it’s important, so listen anyway.”
“Bear with me” !!! Now THAT is a phrase worth eradicating! What a way to undermine yourself and your topic. Thanks for your comment, Harry.