Whether we’re talking about a persuasive conversation or a discussion on the telephone, words matter. Regardless of the setting, audience, or topic, the way you choose to use language as a tool can greatly affect the end result and your ability to make your case to the other party.

In contrast, poor choice of words, especially in a formal or office setting could be somewhat akin to shooting oneself in the foot. While inspiring, motivating, confident and credible communication can open a lot of doors for you in the workplace, it could just as easily be the other way around if you’re not careful with the phrases you utter in a professional setting.

unsplash/Mario Gogh. In a tricky situation, pointing fingers might not be the best course of action

Because I Said So

Growing up, these four words might have been one of the most dreaded phrases of our childhood but now that we’re all grown up, we can occasionally come across it in the workplace too. For some managers and company bosses, uttering phrases like these might be a normal occurrence but all you need to do is remember your younger days to realize how frustrating these words can be for those on the receiving end.

If you really want to inspire and lead your team of co-workers, rather than assert your authority and manage by force, it’s important that you state your case. To ensure that your colleagues respect you and your decisions, it’s vital that you explain the thought process behind specific decisions to ensure that they are fully on board.

pexels/Yan Krukov.If you’re not happy with someone’s work, it might be a better idea to guide them rather than criticize and ridicule

You Always Do This

If your colleague has a habit of doing things differently than what is expected of them or if the quality of their work disappoints you, there are a few routes you can take to resolve this issue. Rather than banging your (and their!) head against a wall on every such occasion, it might be a better idea to work with them and guide them rather than criticizing and ridiculing.

In a tricky situation, pointing fingers is not the best course of action when that time could be better spent on brainstorming potential solutions. To get the most out of your team, or co-workers, look for how you can work with them to change their habits and improve their quality of work.

pexels/Yan Krukov. Blunt phrases like “You’re Wrong” will make you look bad

You’re Wrong

We’ve all found ourselves in a situation where we completely disagree with the other party. In a professional setting, this could range anywhere from their opinion to how they completed a certain project.

Bluntly saying this phrase in instances like these will not only make you look bad but will also be counterintuitive if your intention was to encourage your colleague to improve their style of work. There are ways of disagreeing with someone and a blunt phrase like “You’re Wrong” is unlikely to get you anywhere.