In a Forbes magazine article called “Worst Words to Say at Work,” business consu

Question

In a Forbes magazine article called “Worst Words to Say at Work,” business consultant and psychotherapist Linnda Durre listed nine words or phrases that show someone is not confident.11 These phrases, according to Durre, cause others to perceive you as undependable and untrustworthy. To read the article, go to

www.forbes.com/2010/04/26/words-work-communication-forbes-woman-leadership-career.html

Then respond to 4 of the following, which are excerpted from her article, with four to five sentences about whether you agree or disagree with her point of view:

1. Try is a weasel word. “Well, I'll try,” some people say. It's a cop-out. They're just giving you lip service when they probably have no real intention of doing what you ask.

2. Whatever— This word is a trusted favorite of people who want to dismiss you, diminish what you say, or get rid of you quickly …. It's an insult and a verbal slap in the face. It's a way to respond to a person without actually responding.

3. Maybe and I don't know— People will sometimes avoid making a decision and hide behind these words. Sometimes during a confrontation people will claim not to know something or offer the noncommittal response “maybe,” just to avoid being put on the spot.

4. I'll get back to you—When people need to buy time or avoid revealing a project's status, they will say, “I'll get back to you,” and they usually never do.

5. If—Projects depend on everyone doing his or her part. People who use if are usually playing the blame game and betting against themselves. They like to set conditions rather than assuming a successful outcome.

6. Yes, but…—This is another excuse. You might give your team members suggestions or solutions and they come back to you with “Yes, but …” as a response. They don't really want answers, help, or solutions.

7. I guess…—This is usually said in a weak, soft-spoken, shoulder-shrugging manner. It's another attempt to shirk responsibility—a phrase is muttered only when people half agree with you but want to leave enough leeway to say, “Well, I didn't really know …. I was only guessing.”

8. We'll see…—How many times did we hear our parents say this? We knew they were buying time, avoiding a fight or confrontation, or really saying no.

Explanation / Answer

Commentary on the usage of various phrases (4 nos.):

1. Try is a weasel word. “Well, I'll try,” some people say. It's a cop-out. They're just giving you lip service when they probably have no real intention of doing what you ask.

Totally agree. The above is absolutely true. This is just providing a false assurance to the larger audience and don’t mean any real commitment. When a person is saying that they will try to accomplish something, then it means that the person is actually preparing a base for the eventual failure as he or she is already conjecturing that efforts may fail and he or she is saying this to protect themselves in case of the failure in the future.

2. I'll get back to you—When people need to buy time or avoid revealing a project's status, they will say, “I'll get back to you,” and they usually never do.

Agree.This again means that the person is not interested in giving any particular set of information or sharing data. The phrase is normally used as a delay tactic and to divert attention from a topic in which they are not interested in discussing or sharing information about to some other less relevant topics.

3. If—Projects depend on everyone doing his or her part. People who use if are usually playing the blame game and betting against themselves. They like to set conditions rather than assuming a successful outcome.

This is normally used by individuals to caveat their effort and sincerity and safeguard their interests. Normally such a phrase is used to shift the blame for any failure and set expectations early on that certain activities can only be completed contingent on the accomplishment of certain work by other players and we are not responsible for other’s action. It shows lack of initiative and a behavior of working in isolation.

4. Yes, but…—This is another excuse. You might give your team members suggestions or solutions and they come back to you with “Yes, but …” as a response. They don't really want answers, help, or solutions.

Again agree. An affirmation of the response followed by a disclaimer means that the response was not accepted in the first place. It is just a polite way to dismiss the suggestion and bring up reasons to ignore or decline the advice or recommendations made.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse I
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.