Say No More to These 10 Common Phrases

When presenting, showing confidence is essential for building trust and engaging your audience. One way to enhance your credibility is by avoiding phrases that might unintentionally weaken your message.

Reflecting on my own experiences, I’ve identified 10 common phrases I used to rely on in presentations. I’ve worked to eliminate these from my conversations, especially when presenting. Below are the phrases, why it’s helpful to avoid them, and what you can say instead to deliver your message with greater confidence and clarity:

1. Avoid: "I think..."

   • Why: It can make your message seem uncertain. Research shows that speakers who express certainty are viewed as more authoritative and credible.
   • Say Instead: "I believe..." or "I’m confident that..."

2. Avoid: "I’m sorry, but..."

   • Why: Over-apologizing can undermine your confidence. Studies show that unnecessary apologies can make a speaker seem less competent.
   • Say Instead: "I’d like to address..." or "Let’s consider..."

3. Avoid: "I’ll try to..."

   • Why: It weakens your commitment. Assertive language builds trust and conveys determination, according to goal-setting research.
   • Say Instead: "I will..." or "I’m going to..."

4. Avoid: "Does that make sense?"

   • Why: Asking this may signal self-doubt. Confident speakers are less likely to seek reassurance, and this can affect how others perceive your expertise.
   • Say Instead: "What are your thoughts on this?" or "Let me know if you have any questions."

5. Avoid: "I’m not an expert, but..."

   • Why: It diminishes your authority. Studies show that downplaying your knowledge can cause doubt in your audience.
   • Say Instead: "Based on my experience..." or "In my research, I’ve found..."

6. Avoid: "I’ll keep it short."

   • Why: This can suggest that your content isn’t important. Positive framing increases engagement and receptivity.
   • Say Instead: "Let’s dive into the key points."

7. Avoid: "I’m just going to..."

   • Why: The word "just" can downplay the importance of what you’re about to say. Linguistic research shows that minimizing language weakens your statements.
   • Say Instead: "I’ll now..." or "Let’s move to..."

8. Avoid: "This might be a stupid question, but..."

   • Why: It undermines your intelligence. Self-deprecating remarks can lower others’ perceptions of your competence.
   • Say Instead: "Here’s an important consideration..." or "Let’s explore this idea..."

9. Avoid: "Hopefully..."

   • Why: It can signal a lack of control. Assertive language improves perceptions of confidence and competence.
   • Say Instead: "I expect..." or "I anticipate..."

10. Avoid: "Bear with me..."

    • Why: It can make you seem unprepared. Confident speakers guide their audience without asking for leniency.
    • Say Instead: "Let’s move through this together..." or "We’ll take this step by step..."

By making small adjustments to your language, you can project more confidence and authority, ultimately making your presentations stronger and more impactful.

Happy Thursday all,

-srt

Resources
The Art of Public Speaking by Stephen Lucas
Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo