People Who Sound Polished & Professional Usually Avoid Saying 2 Common Words In Casual Conversation
Pressmaster | Shutterstock The saying “fake it ‘til you make it” holds true, especially in the workplace. Sometimes, it can feel like everyone else knows what they’re doing while you stand on the sidelines, trying to keep up. Career coach Anna Belyaeva shared her tips for communicating professionally at work, including what not to say and why.
People who sound polished and professional usually avoid saying 'I just wanted'
“How often do you say the words, ‘I just wanted’ in a professional setting?” she asked. “I just wanted to follow up; I just wanted to check in; I just wanted to see if you had any updates for me.”
As a career expert, Balyaeva believes using the words “Just” and “Wanted” makes people sound less confident and less professional.
She’s not wrong: Framing a question with “I just wanted” makes you sound unsure or like you’re imposing. Instead of saying, “I just wanted,” she recommended being direct, suggesting, “I’m reaching out," or, "I’m following up.”
Belyaeva revealed another sentence people should stop using if they want to grow in their careers: 'I hope you’re doing well'
“Most people use it,” she explained. “When you started in your corporate career, you probably felt like it was necessary and that it made you sound polite.”
“In reality, it is generic and forgettable, kind of like elevator music,” she said. “It’s insincere. Are you truly invested in the answer? And it wastes the receiver’s time and email space.”
Instead of saying, “I hope you’re doing well,” she suggested following senior leaders' lead and leaving out the pleasantry. “They’re concise and straight to the point,” she said. “So, if you want to be a senior leader, you need to start sounding like one.”
Imposter syndrome is common at work
It's especially common for people who have traditionally been denied access to the higher echelons of the corporate world.
Experiencing anxiety in the workplace is incredibly normal, yet feeling like you don’t deserve your role can hold you back from being promoted or included in important decisions.
Executive coach Jule Kim defined imposter syndrome as feeling like “You’re not as smart or as talented as other people think you are and that they’ll discover that you’re some kind of fraud.”
“The reason you think this is because you’re constantly giving credit for your accomplishments to other people or circumstances instead of owning that you did it,” she explained. “You keep giving away all your success, and that tells your brain, ‘You must not be competent because you’ve apparently done nothing.’”
Kim shared a technique for boosting your confidence when imposter syndrome rears its ugly head: “Documenting everything you’ve done, everything you’ve accomplished, worked on, finished, any positive feedback or compliments you’ve received, and put them all in one place.”
This practice means taking ownership of your work and letting yourself bask in the glow of doing good work. We’re allowed to take up space in the world, including at our jobs, even if we’re told otherwise.
Alexandra Blogier is a writer on YourTango's news and entertainment team. She covers social issues, pop culture, and all things entertainment-related.
