Avoid These Phrases That Will Make You Seem Immature at Work
You can be a hard-working worker who is the highest educated in your class. You can be an asset to any organization that hires you. Despite this, sometimes you can still appear immature or unprofessional at work. Because in the workplace (as in life) we are judged not only by the actions we can perform effectively, but also by the way we speak and present ourselves.
Our choice of words matters, and even if you don’t say anything overtly offensive, small gaffes can leave a lasting impression. If you don’t want to appear inexperienced or unprofessional in the office, here are a few words and phrases to avoid.
Words are options. While we all rely on “like,” “you know,” and “um” from time to time, overuse of parameter words can make us slurred at best and incompetent at worst. (Honestly, we all could use some help with this. The average speaker uses five parasite words a minute. Here’s how to kick the habit .)
Business jargon . Some business jargons such as “synergy”, “low hanging fruit” and “core competency” may be unavoidable in certain corporate environments. But overuse of corporate jargon can backfire, making it look like you’re trying to cover up your lack of knowledge with fancy words. (Put 110% if needed , but please stop “unbuttoning your kimono”. This is weird.)
Like/kind of/I think/simply : We use this type of “defensive word”, in the words of speech coach and author John Bowe , ” to sound reasonable, approachable, or the opposite of overbearing .” But they are not only distracting, but also speak of a lack of clarity and self-confidence.
Note : You may be trying to break the ice, build rapport, or express sympathy, but off-topic or sarcastic remarks can do more harm than good. Joking about your mother-in-law, yesterday’s bar, or apologizing for being sloppy by blaming your travel schedule or binge-watching the Ozarks isn’t a good idea. Save the stand-up for an open mic night.
Whatever : Is There a More Immature Word Than Anything , the Basis of the American High Schooler’s Malaise Lexicon? Look using this casual form of semi-compliance, along with its teenage-sounding counterparts: literally, totally, and casually .
Don’t worry/no problem : while admittedly not a major offense, make sure to use these two phrases instead of “please” at all times. They can sound too casual and imply that the person who just said thank you was worried or that what they asked for was on the verge of problems.
“Dude”, “Bro” or “Man” : While some work environments are more laid-back than others, adding “Dude”, “Bro” or “Man” when speaking lowers the appreciation of what you’re saying and makes you less perceived. jokes aside.
Referring to women as “girls” : If the person or group of people you are referring to is over 18, use the word “woman/women” rather than “girl(s)”.
Appeal to all “you guys” . As much as it is common to refer to a group of men and women as “you guys”, the term ” lads ” means men . Now, more than ever, as we shift our language of gender identity to be more inclusive, referring to mixed groups as “you guys” sounds outdated. (Consider options: Everyone, Everyone, Team, Friends, People .)
This is what it is : What exactly ? This would be useful to know, because this statement means nothing.
Profanity: This is a one-way ticket to your employer’s figurative timeout corner.
It sucks : it is.