Confidence-Busting Words to Keep Out of Your Emails
You’ve had to deal with getting your point across in email for some time. But what you may not realize is the art of writing well to show-up as a leader, to persuade, and to build a trust factor. Corporate executives understand this — they have mass communications teams that write their most important email messages.
That’s because email can do one of two things for you:
1. It can be a vehicle that works for you, efficiently saving you time and persuasively getting you what you need.
2. It can be a vehicle that undermines your intentions, most times without you even knowing it.
What if it’s the latter and your emails are giving people the wrong impression?
It happens when you use the wrong tone, the wrong words, all in the wrong order — you only end up sounding less confident, less like leadership material, and less reliable.
The question you’re placing in the other person’s mind says “Can I trust them to get this done?” When that happens you’re creating doubt about your abilities.
People must trust you in order for you to get high-profile projects. It’s about being realiable, competent, and building trust — all through words.
Who knew words had so much power and impact? It goes back to the adage that it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.
Your first step to making email work for you is by removing confidence-busting words. If you’re unsure of your message and your approach, why would the other person place confidence in you?
First order of business — delete all the words that are doing more harm than good and are impacting your ability to get your message across.
Avoid Using These 7 Words in Your Email
Who knew words had so much power and impact? It goes back to the adage that it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.
Your first step to making email work for you is by removing confidence-busting words. If you’re unsure of your message and your approach, why would the other person place confidence in you?
First order of business — delete all the words that are doing more harm than good and are impacting your ability to get your message across.
1. Sorry
You may think that adding an occasional “sorry” makes you sound polite or considerate in your email. But when it’s unnecessary, you seem doubtful and insecure.
Unless you’ve made a mistake, don’t say “sorry” in your emails. And if you have to issue a true apology, do it over the phone or on a video call rather than in a message.
2. Think
It comes down to saying “I think” which usually proceeds “we should”. When used in this way it can elude that your idea or solution is not the right answer when it could be.
To be confident in the statement you’re making, try using “I recommend” or “The next steps are…” The way that you frame your response makes all the difference in whether or not your idea or solution will move forward.
3. Just
Most people find themselves in the habit of sprinkling the word “just” in their emails. You might tell someone, “I just wanted to…” to sound friendlier or downplay urgency.
But when your colleagues read it, “just” minimizes the importance of your message. It makes you sound less confident and less in need of a response.
4. Maybe
Using the word “maybe” in your emails is very similar to saying “I guess”. It gives the illusion that you’re questioning what you’re saying. You sound unsure, causing you to seem hesitant and your response to be untrustworthy.
If you’re unsure when you’re responding, it begs the question if you’re being careless as you haven’t done the research or investigated further to determine if your response or solution is the right one.
5. Try
To project confidence through email, leave the word “try” out. Don’t tell anyone that you’re going to “try” to do anything.
Using this word makes you sound like you’re not confident in your abilities, leaving you to appear like you’re incapable. Leave “try” out, and speak of your to-dos and next steps with confidence.
6. Kind Of
Words like “kind of” have no place in any of your business emails. It’s too vague, and it makes you sound like you’re unsure of what you said or what’s going on.
If you really are unsure of anything, clarify it rather than using “kind of.” Your colleagues will appreciate the initiative, and you’ll avoid sending emails that sound unclear.
7. Hopefully
Another word that makes you sound uncertain is “hopefully.” When you use this word, it gives others the impression that you don’t have control over your work.
Rather than having hope for something, speak with confidence about getting it done.
Lasting Thoughts
Email is often the first impression that you’re giving to colleagues, leadership, and stakeholders. It can work for you in providing a good overview of your capabilities or it can work against you by highlighting insecurities.
When you’re stuck with some bad email habits, it’s crucial to break them as soon as possible. The words you use in your email are the biggest offenders and they often sound like this, “I was just thinking maybe we try…” It’s the fastest way to appear to be unreliable, unconfident, and incapable.
There’s an art to writing email well — one that showcases you and your abilities in the best way. When done right, email can help you stand-out from your peers. You word choice, tone, and style can help you show-up as a leader, persuade, and build a trust factor.
You can use emails to be seen as a confident leader who shows-up organized and is at the top of their game.
Your first step is to keep out the 7 confidence-busting words from your emails. No more quick response emails that use the words:
- Sorry
- Think
- Just
- Maybe
- Try
- Kind Of
- Hopefully
Your next step is to grab the free guide that gives you 10 bad email habits you need to nix — plus you get a checklist of alternatives to use in your emails to help you exude confidence and get what you need.
[Free Guide]
Email Habits to Nix
Before You Hit Send
10 of the biggest mistakes people make with their emails. If you're guilty of any of these habits, put an end to them fast.
You may be surprised what's on the list. Grab the guide - it's yours to keep.
