Being too wordy weakens your message and presence. Instead of using weak filler words, sometimes silence is better; It allows you to stop and think, while letting the audience process what you’re saying.
To build trust, avoid these 11 words and phrases that make people question your credibility and respect you less:
1. “mother”
This is the most common crutch. It indicates that you are not ready, lack confidence, or do not know what to say next.
2. “In all honesty”
People use “in all honesty” or “I won’t lie to you” to express sincerity, although it can also be read as the opposite.
The audience already knows your intention is to tell the truth. Repeating it will only make them wonder why you’re trying to reassure them of your sincerity.
3. “I think”
This phrase makes you seem indecisive and unsure of what to say; It is not a fact, but an idea. If you know you are making a well-thought-out argument, present it with confidence and conviction.
4. “More or Less”
It is almost impossible to measure “more or less”. Leave the listener in limbo because it dilutes the impact of your message.
5. “Just or simply”
I understand the fear of being bold. But using weak words like “only” diminishes the importance of your message by making your statement seem less important.
6. “OK”
We’ve all heard this punctuated by the phrases: “Well, I was thinking we could kick off the session with a round of introductions.”
But, like “um” and “uh,” it makes you sound less prepared or less confident.
7. “I’m no expert, but”
When you use this phrase, you are directly undermining your own knowledge. In an effort to appear cool and confident, you are actually doing the opposite.
8. “In my opinion”
Of course, you want to acknowledge differences of opinion and respect other points of view. But going too far can make you appear insecure or reluctant to take a firm stand.
9. “I’ll try”
Are you fully committed if you say you’ll try? maybe. But this sentence makes you seem only partially committed, or that you lack the confidence to complete the task at hand.
10. “I’m sorry, but”
When you overuse apologetics, you can sound weak or overly dependent.
And if you’re going to apologize, do so with conviction. Don’t label it with insincere words like “but”.
11. “Does this make sense?”
I’ve seen people say this after they’ve tried to explain something, but felt like they didn’t do a good job. A better statement would be: “I hope that makes sense.” Give people at least 15-30 seconds to digest, and then ask them again if they have any questions.
Christina Helena She is an expert in public speaking, and a public speaking instructor TEDx Speaker. With over ten years of experience, he has worked with clients in major companies such as Google, Apple, Facebook and LinkedIn. follow her instagram.
this condition Originally published in English by Christina Helena to our sister series CNBC.com. For more from CNBC enter here.
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