Tips for Avoiding The Impression You Lack Confidence

Do you want to avoid giving the impression you lack confidence and authority in your emails? 

Avoid these words:

Might -  When you say you “might” finish a report, it implies you lack some ability, don’t manage your time well, or have too many priorities.

Won’t - Be more decisive: Either accept or reject it; using the word won’t suggests hesitancy.

Usually - This is a trigger word in email that makes it obvious to everyone that you don’t have all the facts. It means you’re stretching the truth.

Suspect - Unless you are talking about a suspect in a trial, avoid saying you “suspect” anything. Just use direct terms. 

Impossible - The recipient will lose confidence in you quickly.  Don’t bother telling people it’s impossible. 

Worried - Telling people you are worried by email makes it seem as if you lack confidence in your abilities. 

Confused - Saying you are “confused” gives people the impression that either you don’t understand something or that the topic is confusing to you. 

Need - When you express those needs by email over and over again, it makes you look needy. 

Quandary - You should know that the word means you are in a total state of perplexity. 

Likely - If you say something is “likely” in an email, you are expressing to the recipient that you are not really sure about the topic, and you don’t have all the facts yet. 

This article was published in TIME by John Brandon, and it was originally published at Inc.com. Use this link to read the article in TIME:  http://time.com/2889520/lack-of-confidence-words/