There’s a huge difference between sounding confident and being overbearing when you speak.
It all boils down to the words you use. Using the wrong phrases can make you sound unsure, even when you aren’t.
But, on the bright side, sounding more confident is as simple as eliminating certain phrases from your speech.
What if I told you that saying goodbye to just 10 phrases could drastically improve the way you come across?
Well, it’s true and in the following paragraphs, I’m going to tell you exactly what they are.
Get ready to sound more confident than ever before.
One of the easiest ways to undermine your own confidence is by starting your sentences with “I think”.
Sure, being humble is good. But when you’re trying to sound confident, saying “I think” can make you appear unsure of yourself.
It’s as if you’re seeking validation or you’re not entirely convinced about what you’re saying.
This phrase is especially detrimental when you’re discussing something within your area of expertise.
If you’re the expert, people expect you to be certain. They want to hear facts, not your personal thoughts or doubts.
Whenever you find yourself about to say “I think”, stop. Instead, present your thoughts directly.
Replace “I think we should go this way” with “Let’s go this way”. See the difference? One sounds like a suggestion, and the other sounds like a decision.
Sounding confident isn’t about being bossy or arrogant.
It’s about expressing your thoughts clearly and decisively.
If there’s one phrase I’ve had to work on removing from my own vocabulary, it’s “Sorry, but…”.
I used to say it all the time. If I had a different opinion or needed something from someone, I would begin my sentence with “Sorry, but…”. I thought it was polite.
But then I realized it was doing more harm than good.
Starting a statement with an apology sets a negative tone.
It can make you sound unsure and like you’re intruding. It’s as if you’re apologizing for having an opinion or a need.
I remember when I had to present a new project idea to my team.
Instead of saying, “Sorry, but I think we should try this…”, I took a deep breath and said, “I propose we try this…”.
The response was immediate. My team saw me as more confident and the discussion that followed was much more productive.
Ditch the “Sorry, but…” from your speech. Stand by your opinions and don’t apologize for them.
Did you know that men are more likely to overestimate their abilities, while women tend to underestimate theirs?
This is known as the Dunning-Kruger effect, a cognitive bias where people with low ability at a task overestimate their ability, and people with high ability underestimate theirs.
One phrase that often falls out of this self-deprecating habit is “I’m no expert, but…”.
By using this phrase, you’re immediately undermining your own credibility.
You’re telling the listener that they should take your words with a grain of salt because you don’t really know what you’re talking about.
Even if you’re not an expert in the conventional sense, you bring a unique perspective to the table.
Instead of downplaying your knowledge or experience, speak directly and confidently.
If you’ve done your research and analysis, let your insights stand on their own merits.
Drop the “I’m no expert, but…” and replace it with confident, assertive statements.
You might be surprised at how differently people respond.
This is one phrase that can betray your confidence without you even realizing it.
“Does that make sense?” might seem like a considerate way to ensure your listener is following along, but it can often come off as you second-guessing your own clarity or competence.
This phrase implies that you’re not confident in your ability to effectively communicate your message.
It’s almost as if you’re expecting the listener to be confused because you don’t trust your own explanation.
Instead, try replacing it with “Do you have any questions?” or “Is there anything you’d like me to go over again?”.
This way, you’re still checking for comprehension, but without undermining your own credibility.
Embrace more confident ways of seeking feedback.
This small word can have a big impact on how confident you sound.
Using “just” can make your statements sound like an afterthought or as if you’re minimizing your own input.
Let’s take an example. Compare “I just thought we could try this…” to “I thought we could try this…”.
The second statement sounds much more confident, doesn’t it?
Using “just” can make it seem like you’re trying to make your ideas or requests less important than they are.
It’s as if you’re trying to avoid inconveniencing others with your thoughts or needs.
Let’s remove the word “just” from our vocabulary when expressing our ideas and demands.
This is a phrase that hits close to home for many of us.
We’ve all had moments where we’ve doubted the worth of our ideas, and it’s easy to let these doubts slip into our speech.
Starting a sentence with “It’s probably stupid, but…” is an immediate self-deprecation.
It’s as if you’re expecting rejection even before your idea has had a chance to be heard.
Your ideas deserve respect and consideration. By belittling them, you’re not only undermining your own confidence but also setting the stage for others to dismiss you.
Instead, present your ideas directly and assertively. Even if they’re not accepted, it’s important to remember that this doesn’t reflect on your worth or intelligence.
Start giving our ideas the respect they deserve.
There was a time when I used to attribute my achievements to luck. Every time someone complimented me on my work, I would respond with “I’m just lucky”.
This phrase, while it may appear humble, can actually diminish your accomplishments.
It implies that you don’t believe in your own skills and efforts, and instead, credit your success to chance.
Every accomplishment is a result of hard work, determination, and skill. By reducing it to luck, you’re not giving yourself the credit you deserve.
Acknowledge your efforts and let yourself feel proud of what you’ve achieved.
Here’s a phrase that can be surprising in its effect. “This may be a bad idea, but…” might seem like a way to soften the blow of a potentially unpopular suggestion.
But, what it actually does is undermine your suggestion before it’s even been considered.
By announcing that your idea might be bad, you’re setting the expectation that it’s not worth much consideration.
It’s as if you’re preparing your audience for disappointment.
Instead, present your ideas with confidence and let them be judged on their own merits, not on your pre-emptive evaluation of them.
Who knows, your “bad” idea might just be the innovative solution everyone has been waiting for.
“I guess” is another phrase that tends to sneak into our language without us realizing how much it can impact our perceived confidence.
When you say “I guess”, it implies uncertainty. It sounds like you’re not fully committed to your own words and that you might be easily swayed by others’ opinions.
Instead of saying “I guess”, try stating your opinion or decision directly. Replace “I guess we could do it this way” with “Let’s do it this way”.
Confidence isn’t about always being right, but about having the courage to stand by your choices.
The most self-defeating phrase in our vocabulary is “I can’t”.
This short statement has the power to halt progress, curb creativity, and breed self-doubt.
When you say “I can’t”, you’re setting a limit for yourself. You’re declaring a barrier that you’re unwilling or unable to cross.
Confidence is about challenging these self-imposed barriers and pushing your own boundaries. Instead of saying “I can’t”, try saying “I’ll try” or “I’ll learn”.
Remove “I can’t” from our speech. Our words shape our thoughts and our thoughts shape our actions.
Let the language of confidence guide you to your full potential.
Language, as intricate and complex as it may be, is ultimately an expression of our thoughts.
Our choice of words, the phrases we use, echo our internal beliefs and attitudes.
The phrases we’ve discussed here might seem insignificant on their own, but their cumulative effect on how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us is significant.
Just as a small pebble can cause ripples in a pond, these phrases can subtly ripple through our interactions, altering our image and confidence.
Consider the impact of your words.
By saying goodbye to these ten phrases, you’re taking a significant step towards expressing yourself with more confidence.
Confidence isn’t about sounding certain all the time. It’s about being comfortable with uncertainty, making decisions despite it, and standing by your thoughts and actions.
Let’s embrace the language of confidence.
The post If you want to sound more confident when you speak, say goodbye to these 10 phrases appeared first on Small Business Bonfire.
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