I love words. Some of my favorite books are my favorites for the simple reason that I walked away from them with an army of new words and phrases to infuse into everyday life.
Now, there’s a downside to my preoccupation with words. I hold a grudge when they’re used carelessly. Even worse? When a simple word can be used by the author or speaker reaches for a thesaurus so they can pretend to be impressive. Like saying “ameliorate” when “fix” will do.
At work, this kind of language inflation or deflation hurts more than your credibility. It shapes how people see you. Trust you. Promote you.
Here are 10 ways you might be using language that’s quietly sabotaging your career, and what to do instead:
- You hedge. “I think…” “I’m not sure, but…” “Maybe we could…” You sound unsure, even when you’re right.
- You apologise for existing. “Sorry to bother you…” “Sorry, quick question…”Stop. You’re not a nuisance. You’re doing your job.
- You bury the lead. Long backstory, no point. Now you’re 5 paragraphs in and still haven’t said the thing.. Say the most important thing first. Then explain. Brevity isn’t rude, it’s respect.
- You speak fluent jargon. “Results-driven professional with a proven track record…” “leveraging cross-functional synergies. No one talks like that. Speak human.
- You confuse clarity with complexity. Big words do not equal big impact. Nobody’s impressed you used “umbrage.” when you could just have easily have said “offend.” Smart people speak simply. If it needs a dictionary, it’s doing too much.
- You forget to claim credit. “We all pitched in…” “The report was completed.” Cool. But what exactly did you do? If your sentences sound like no one did the work, guess who won’t get the credit? Show up in your own story.
- You don’t adapt. Same style when you’re talking to your team, execs, and clients. Execs want headlines and numbers, clients care about outcomes and your team needs as much context as they can get. Speak for the room you’re in.
- You end every statement like a question? “I think this is the right direction?” Uptalk is a trap. It makes everything sound optional. Say it like you believe it. Certainty is attractive. Be the person who is bold enough to advocate for their own ideas.
- You stay silent when clarity is needed.Something doesn’t make sense but you say nothing. You nod, smile, and figure you’ll “circle back.” Every time you decide to keep your innovative ideas to yourself, avoid asking clarifying questions, or accept poor company policy, you send the message that you’re a doormat or largely disengaged. Remember that active participation is arguably the most rewarded quality at work.
- You speak for too long. You had a great point. Then you added five more. Say what you need to say. Then stop talking. Silence is a power move.