10 Phrases to Avoid

By -


1.    That’s the way we have always done it.

Some people ask why; others ask why not; yet others are happy with the status quo.


2.    I did what you told me to do.

The implication is that it is not your fault that you messed up something but that of your supervisor for not maintaining a constant vigil.

3.    I’m not feeling well enough.

All of us go under the weather sometimes. A few have to live with genuine medical issues. However, using this as an excuse for inaction is the pinnacle of being unprofessional.

4.    It is none of your business.

Really? This is the 21st century. Your competitors probably know your “secrets” better than your colleagues. Refusing to share relevant information is a hangover from colonial days.

 

5.    That was my idea.

Ideas are great. How about some execution?


6.    That’s not my job.

Applies only to government officials. For the rest of us, everything is a part of the job.


7.    You know what I mean?

Once in awhile it is good to make sure that you and your listener are on the same wavelength. Repeated often, it is annoying and discourteous.

 

8.    Sorry I’m late.

Happens to all of us once in a while. If it is a habit though, you are conveying you don’t value others’ time.


9.    We have big plans.

Plans are nice. Time for some real achievement.


10. They may never notice.

Passing sloppy work as something of quality takes the cake for being unprofessional (check your e-mail at least twice before hitting the send button).

 

Comments

  1. UnknownOctober 26, 2015 at 10:29 AM

    All too often we say these things, not even thinking of the implications. Great reminder to stay present, positive and punctual!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Drives Team Success?

By -
Image
Ever wondered what distinguishes exceptional teams from others?

Psychological safety.

Coined by Harvard Professor Amy Edmondson, psychological safety has been found to be at the heart of great teams. She defines psychological safety as "ashared belief that the team is safe for interpersonal risk taking" and explains that psychologically safe environments exude "a sense of confidencethat the team will not embarrass, reject, or punish someone for speaking up."

It is important to remember that psychological safety is not the same as trust.

"Trust is the expectation that other people's future actions will be favorable to one's interests. Psychological safety refers to a climate in which people are comfortable being (and expressing) themselves. Although both constructs involve a willingness to be vulnerable to others' actions, they are conceptually and theoretically distinct. In particular, psychological safety is centrally tied to learning behavior, while …
Read more

The Paradox of Choice

By -
Image
One of the key elements of democracies is competition. One of the key outcomes of competition is choice. Choice is supposed to afford the freedom that is at the heart of rational decision making. Or that is what Economics 101 would tell you.
Now consider this. The average grocery store offers some 300 varieties of salad dressings. Are you sure that the one you had today, or yesterday, or last week, was indeed the best? How do you know? Have you tried all the 300? Or assume you want to build a stereo system that will provide you with endless hours of bliss. A well-stocked electronic components store can, in theory, allow you to build seven million varieties of stereo systems. How would you determine that the components that you choose would indeed provide the best possible sound? Choice is a fascinating subject to explore. In his book, The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz argued that more choices lead to more stress and thus are less helpful in making decisions. His work builds on the pi…
Read more

7 Ways To Reduce Stress

By -
Image
According to the American Psychological Association, a majority of Americans experience a high degree of stress (https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2012/full-report.pdf). More than half of it is work-related. The disturbing news is that most of these are not even diagnosed and hence are not treated (http://journals.lww.com/psychosomaticmedicine/pages/results.aspx?txtkeywords=Stress).

Here are 7 ways you can reduce stress. These are based on scientific studies and the advice of experts.

1. Live the Moment, One Task at a Time


Look around you. Everyone seems to be in a hurry. Multi-tasking (even while driving) is the norm.

Slow down. Breathe deeply. Prioritize. Stick to one task at a time. Take a 7-minute break every hour.

Remember: Results are more important than the time it takes to achieve them.

2. Accept what you cannot control


"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.&q…
Read more