Common clutter words that erode credibility

After 15+ years in sales, here’s a what I’ve learned. The words you choose are as important as the product you sell. Here are 7 phrases I hear too often, and why they quietly kill trust: ❌ “I’m just checking in” → Translation: “I don’t have a real reason to reach out.” Always give value when you show up. ❌ “To be honest with you” → Does that mean you weren’t honest before? Precision in language = precision in trust. ❌ “I can send you a proposal” → You’re handing over control. Instead: “Let’s walk through a proposal together to see if it fits.” ❌ “I haven’t heard back from you” → That’s your problem, not theirs. Instead: “I know timing is key. Is [X outcome] still a priority for this quarter?” ❌ “Trust me” → The fastest way to break trust is to ask for it. Earn it with proof, not promises. ❌ “I think” → If you’re uncertain, why should they be certain? Replace with “Here’s what we know from experience.” ❌ “Obviously” → Nothing is obvious to your customer. Clarity > assumption. 🔑 The fix: Your words should do 3 things in every sales conversation: Build confidence. Remove friction. Anchor value. If your language doesn’t do these 3, you’re accidentally selling yourself short. You don’t need to master a hundred sales tricks. All you need is to upgrade your words.

7 phrases that quietly damage your writing: (And what to use instead). Your writing shapes how readers perceive your expertise. These common phrases are weakening your message. 1. Just wanted to: ↳ Makes your message sound timid and apologetic. ↳ “I'm writing to" or lead with your main point. 2. I think/I believe: ↳ Weakens your authority when stating proven concepts. ↳ Make declarative statements that showcase your expertise. 3. Kind of/Sort of: ↳ Waters down your insights and expertise. ↳ Make clear, confident statements about your observations. 4. In my opinion: ↳ Undermines your credibility as an expert. ↳ Share your expertise directly, backed by experience. 5. Very/Really/Actually: ↳ Creates weak, cluttered writing that lacks impact. ↳ Choose stronger words that stand on their own. 6. Maybe/Possibly: ↳ Signals uncertainty about your own guidance. ↳ Provide clear direction based on your experience. 7. Hope this helps: ↳ Ends your message with doubt about its value. ↳ Close with a clear call to action or key takeaway. Your words demonstrate your expertise. Write with confidence, lead with authority. ~~~ Find this helpful? ♻️ Repost to your network. Enjoy this? 🔔 Follow me for more: Kyle Chastain

🧠 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝗪𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝗪𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 — 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐭 You might be sabotaging your own credibility… just by the way you speak. Over the years, I’ve coached hundreds of professionals, executives, and HR leaders — and the patterns are consistent. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. Because if your words sound tentative, apologetic, or unsure — people assume your thinking is, too. 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐱 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭. ⸻ 🛑 𝟓 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐄𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 🔹 1. Over-Apologizing “Sorry to bother you, but…” “Forgive me — I feel terrible I missed it…” You’re not weak for apologizing. But misusing sorry chips away at your authority. Use it when it counts. Not when you feel insecure. 🔹 2. Tentative Language “I’ll try to finish it.” “Hopefully we can get to that.” “I think this might be a good idea…” If you don’t sound confident, don’t expect others to be confident in you. Say it with clarity and ownership. 🔹 3. Minimizing Your Message “This is just a small thought…” “It’s kind of silly, but…” Stop undermining your contribution before anyone hears it. When you qualify your ideas, you devalue them. Speak up like your voice matters — because it does. 🔹 4. Seeking Constant Validation “Does that make sense?” “I don’t know, what do you think?” Confidence isn’t arrogance. It’s owning your expertise and inviting input — not begging for reassurance. 🔹 5. Weak Recommendations “I feel like we should maybe try this…” “I think this strategy could possibly work…” These aren’t ideas. These are escape hatches. If you’ve done the work — say it. Lead with strength, not soft disclaimers. ⸻ 🎯 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 — 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 You don’t need to be louder to be heard. You need to be clear, grounded, and compelling — especially in high-stakes moments where doubt creeps in. 💬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬: • They influence perception. • They shape your professional identity. • They drive the outcomes your leadership deserves. So speak like you mean it. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲. ⸻ 💡 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨. At JRM Human Capital, we develop confident communicators through: ✔️ The Emotionally Intelligent Leader (Jon Gordon Certified) ✔️ Difficult Conversations (Jon Gordon Certified) ✔️ JRM PowerSkills Series, including:  • Assertiveness Skills  • Communicating with Tact & Diplomacy  • Interpersonal Communication  • Confidence in the Workplace   Let’s turn “I think” into “I believe.” “Sorry” into “Thank you.” And doubt into authority. — 𝐉𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐑. 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐡𝐲 𝐉𝐑𝐌 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞. 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫. 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞. #𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐃𝐚𝐲

Nothing destroys your credibility faster than weak language. Most of you (especially founders) write like you’re afraid of your own words: “Excited to share…” “Happy to announce…” “Concerned about…” It's safe. It's really generic. And it's easily skippable. Your authority in content gets lost in the gap between generic language and precise expression. As a ghostwriter, I use 'the feelings wheel' to edit a flat and boring post. →Instead of 'excited', I can choose words that land with impact: energized, electrified, compelled. →Instead of “concerned,” I can sharpen to alarmed, unsettled, or disturbed. →Instead of “happy,” I can shift to invested, committed, passionate. See the big difference these small swaps make? This wheel helps me switch out all dull words with specific words to trigger an emotion. Your customers already have so many objections. The last thing you can afford to do is sound weak. There's no place for a weak message in a crowded market.

Ditch the Minimizers: Speak with Confidence and Clarity Have you ever started a sentence with phrases like: "I might be wrong, but..." "Would it be okay if I suggest..." "I hate to bother you, but..." These are examples of minimizers and pre-qualifiers—habits that can unintentionally undermine your confidence and authority. Many of us use these phrases out of habit, fear of displeasing others, or feelings of guilt, shame, or defensiveness. But here’s the truth: your voice deserves to be heard without apology or hesitation. When we examine our self-confidence, we must also examine our daily habits. Do they support our trust and belief in ourselves? If not, it’s time to shift our behaviors. Here’s how you can start building confident communication: ✅ Skip the minimizers: Instead of saying, “I might be wrong, but…”, state your point directly. Your knowledge and opinions are valid and valuable. ✅ Shift from shame to gratitude: If you’re late for a meeting, say “Thank you for waiting.” If you’re very late, follow it up with an apology. Gratitude acknowledges others while keeping your confidence intact. ✅ Neutralize feedback: Feedback is just data. When sharing feedback, ask yourself—“Am I sharing a fact or an opinion?” If it’s a fact, share it confidently. By dropping unnecessary apologies and pre-qualifiers, you’ll express yourself clearly and feel more confident in your communication. Remember: you are always more significant than you think you are! 💬 What habits have helped you build confidence in your communication? Share your thoughts—I’d love to hear from you! #LeadershipDevelopment #PersonalGrowth #CommunicationSkills #LeadershipCoach

Even in a world where AI can write and create for us, your voice (i.e. how you show up in meetings, calls, and conversations) is still one of your most powerful leadership tools. The words we choose can either: Set the stage for confidence, credibility, and clarity - Or - Quietly undermine us without us even realizing it One of my personal goals this year is to continually elevate my communication as a leader; not in a pretentious way, but by being intentional about word choice. I’ve started by paying attention to the small things: those filler words and phrases that creep into conversations. Words like “just,” “hopefully,” or “kind of” may seem harmless, but they can subtly diminish how others perceive our confidence and authority. If you have a practice of regularly reviewing your zoom calls or transcripts, this becomes apparent very quickly (and can be quite painful at times!). But leaders need to watch game film in order to improve performance. It’s a fact. That’s why I put together a quick reference sheet of common filler words and stronger alternatives. Small swaps can make a big difference in how you’re heard and perceived. Are there any on this list that you have an opinion about? Or find yourself working on as well?

Executive presence isn’t about sounding polished or confident. It’s about whether people trust you to lead - in the room and beyond it. I see smart, capable leaders unknowingly eroding their presence. Here are three common traps: ❌ Oversharing context This is when you precede your point with so much background that the main idea gets buried - or sounds uncertain. It can signal that you’re justifying, seeking validation/permission, or unsure of the relevance of your message. Real Examples: “Just to give a bit of background - we originally got this request from X, then I spoke to Y, and so we…” ❌ Overexplaining choices This happens after you’ve made a recommendation - and you feel the need to overly defend or rationalize it. Instead of standing behind your judgment, you try to anticipate every objection in advance. Real Examples: “We chose this because of X, Y, and Z - but totally open to other ways of looking at it…” ❌ Under-claiming authority This shows up in softening phrases that sound deferential or noncommittal - even when your thinking is sound. Real Examples ( ✋ Guilty, your Honor): “This might be off base, but…” “I don’t know if this makes sense, but…” “Just a thought - feel free to ignore!” These phrases sound collaborative - but they chip away at your credibility.  (Side note: I had to learn this as a Brit coming over to the US.  I needed to be more assertive, less tentative - and also had to be OK with others disagreeing or having different viewpoints.) Try instead: 👉 “Here’s what I’m seeing…” 👉 “A possible angle to consider is…” 👉 “What I’d recommend based on that is…” 👉 “From where I sit, the risk is…” And a phrase I love: “In my experience…”.  (Positions you as tenured, credible and an authority on the topic).  The fix isn’t to be louder - it’s to be clearer. Executive presence is about leading with insight and conviction - not noise. If you’re ready to build presence without posturing - would you like to chat?

As a recovering people pleaser in leadership... This guide from Dr. Dupe Burgess is a game changer! Here are 9 phrases that secretly destroy your credibility. (And what to say instead): 1. "Does that make sense?" ↳ I used this hoping to sound collaborative. ↳ Instead, it undermined my clarity. Better to say: “Can I clarify anything?” 2. “This might be a stupid question, but…” ↳ My attempt to soften my curiosity. ↳ All it did was discount my insights before sharing them. Better to say: “Here’s a question for discussion.” 3. “I’ll try.” ↳ Classic people pleaser - wanting to show humility. ↳ But it signaled doubt. Better to say: “Here’s how I plan to approach this.” 4. “Sorry to bother you, but…” ↳ My default was to apologize for taking up space. Better to say: “When you have time, I’d love your input.” 5. “Hopefully…” ↳ This was my way of lowering expectations. ↳ It just lowered confidence in me instead. Better to say: “The plan is to achieve X through Y.” 6. “I could be wrong, but…” ↳ Another attempt to soften my opinion. ↳ It just weakened my voice. Better to say: “Here’s my perspective.” 7. “If that’s okay…” ↳ Seeking permission but I should’ve been showing direction. Better to say: “I suggest we proceed by doing [action].” 8. “Let me know if you need anything.” ↳ My way of showing support. ↳ But it put the burden on others. Better to say: “I’m here to help with [specific action].” 9. “No offense, but…” ↳ Trying to soften feedback. ↳ But it just created tension. Better to say: “May I offer a different take on this?” Here's what I've learned: Being supportive doesn't mean being uncertain. We can be both kind AND confident. Which phrase are you working on replacing? Share below👇 P.S. This guide was created by the amazing Dr. Dupe Burgess, a new fav follow! She founded Bloomful, which moves women from the margins to the center of the healthcare system. ——— ♻️ If this resonates, consider a repost. Follow me (Chris Laping) for daily insights to thrive in leadership & life.

7 Phrases That Quietly Sabotage Your Credibility (And What to Say Instead.) Small words ➜ Big consequences The wrong words quietly weaken credibility. Here’s what to avoid and what to say instead: 1. "Does that make sense?" ➜ Makes you sound unsure of yourself. ➜ Say this: "What questions do you have?" 2. "I think we should…" ➜ Weakens your authority. ➜ Say this: "Here’s what we can do." 3. "Sorry." ➜ Apologies aren’t always necessary. ➜ Say this: "Thanks for waiting. Here’s the update." 4. "I’ll try to get to it." ➜ Sounds hesitant and unreliable. ➜ Say this: "I’ll have it done by [specific time]." 5. “We’ve always done it this way." ➜ Signals resistance to improvement. ➜ Say this: "Let’s explore a better way." 6. "That’s not my job." ➜ Makes you sound disengaged. ➜ Say this: "I’ll find out who can help." 7. "It is what it is." ➜ Sounds like you’re giving up. ➜ Say this: "Here’s what we can do next." Your words shape how your team sees you. Speak with clarity, confidence, and ownership. #BuildingLeaders #Manufacturing 👉 What’s another phrase that I’m missing? Comment below!

Stop saying these at work. Start leading with credibility instead. Most career damage doesn’t happen loudly. It happens in casual phrases that sound…fine. But they quietly erode trust, teamwork and leadership. Here’s what to replace (and why): Original Content Creator: Niki Avraam (Give her a follow) --------- 1. “That’s not part of my role” 🧨 Shuts down ownership ✅ “Let me see how I can help or point you to who can.” 2. “I’ll give it a go” 🧨 Sounds half-committed ✅ “I’m on it. I’ll make sure it’s done.” 3. “I just ran out of time” 🧨 Signals poor priorities ✅ “It didn’t get done. I’ll adjust and follow through.” 4. “No one told me” 🧨 Blames others ✅ “I missed that. What’s the best way to stay looped in?” 5. “It’s not fair” 🧨 Feels immature ✅ “Here’s what’s not working—and what could.” 6. “This is how we’ve always done it” 🧨 Kills innovation ✅ “That’s one way. Let’s test if there’s a better option.” 7. “I assumed it was covered” 🧨 Creates confusion ✅ “I wasn’t sure, so I checked to confirm ownership.” 8. “That’s never going to work” 🧨 Blocks progress ✅ “Here’s a challenge. How can we work around it?” 9. “I thought someone else had it” 🧨 Avoids accountability ✅ “Does anyone have this? If not, I’ll take the lead.” 10. “I’m too busy for this” 🧨 Signals chaos ✅ “I’m at capacity. What should we prioritise?” These small swaps change how people see you. They turn passive phrases into active leadership. And create a culture of progress, not blame. Which of these do you hear (or say) most? 👇 Drop your worst offender below. --------- 📬 Stay in the loop and never miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest tactics and lessons ----> https://lnkd.in/gFguctyk ♻️ If you agree, repost to spread the word!