I am this huge proponent of choosing your words carefully in life with our personal life and most definitely here as we talk about business issues in this forum with our Associates and clients. Maybe easier to do in writing cause you can go at it slower and re-read what you wrote than it is with speech where you blab it out there fast not thinking and OOPS, you didn't mean to say it exactly that way. Yes even sweet Gary here has been chastised by those wiser than me at times that as your Mom said some days, "if you don't have anything nice to say don't say it." I don't agree with this all the time, which gets me in trouble with my unfortunate brutal honesty self, but I am working on it. I call it polished speech. So on that topic with business in mind
Don't Be Arrogant Or Make People Feel Stupid With Your Words
And lest you think we boneheaded men are mostly to blame for this in society, many women too get boneheaded with what they say to other women and men as well. Some examples to polish your diamond mouth up for the day and implications if you don't start shining like you ought to:
Use of the words sweetie, darling, buddy, honey with your business contacts. You are not their chum. They are at MOST acquaintances. I had a waitress call me buddy over and over again at a family breakfast restaurant refilling my coffee cup. I know she was being friendly but it was annoying. You open yourself up to sexual connotation and harassment especially older men with younger pretty females although if it is flirting the older women do this darling and sweetheart stuff a lot too.
Use of the word like. Mainly an 18 to 30 year old faux pas with like this is really cool, like we have to do that, like I am into this. Like this is VERY VERY annoying, especially to the over age 30 crowd. Makes you seem VERY immature. Any over use of a word like OK or WOW on and on and on I know is a bad habit but you have to add some more vocabulary to your brain.
Use of the phrase "to be perfectly honest with you". A HORRIBLE phrase. You innocently are emphasizing the listener to pay attention to this point but you are implying you are LYING about everything else you have said in the past. A BS artist. I love jokingly saying LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE when people say perfectly honest with me. They look at me strange but I get them to stop that.
Misuse of the not caring phrase. The correct way to say this once and for all is "I couldn't care less" meaning precisely that. Saying it incorrectly as I could care less which MEANS you could care more makes you look stupid and you really don't even know what you are saying!!
Use of the phrase Do you understand? The HEIGHT of arrogance. Like you are this great teacher. You are saying they are stupid. YOU have a superiority attitude. As an equal or servant teacher to someone ASK in a manner such as is this CLEAR to them? Did I explain that to your satisfaction? Do not insult their intelligence like they are dense even if they are. Maybe it is YOU who is not such a clear communicator, wonderful teacher and guide you think you are.
Finally, ONE I REALLY HATE from the blue haired old lady REALTORS, the FORCED OPINION of theirs on you. This is where they say, "Don't you think this feature is great, isn't this house wonderful, isn't this neighborhood just the cat's pajamas?" HELLO. Who's money is buying this abode anyway? Your blue haired old lady REALTOR is not living here. The proper words are, once again as a servant, "What do you Mister and Missus Buyer think of this kitchen, this big backyard, this house in this exemplary school district? and elicit their OWN feeback. Your opinion is not the opinion that COUNTS!! The buyers is.
With a little forethought about not making these language errors, before opening that trap and being reminded that if you don't have anything nice to say be quiet (most of the time) you'll do fine and be one finely polished mouthpiece in the world of friends, family, and in the business world ~ CLIENTS!!!
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