That won’t work

We often hear things that we truly believe won’t work, but it doesn’t foster good relations if we shut people down. The person who gets shut down may never feel comfortable sharing that genius idea later on. I find using "that is interesting, why do you think that?" and then, "I understand, what do you think of this..." as a softer way to bring the conversation back round if you are still convinced a particular idea won’t work.

You may think this is stupid but...

Don’t position an idea as stupid in other peoples' minds before you have even said it. Be confident with your language, even if you don’t feel completely confident in your idea. The moment you position it as stupid, they may well do the same.

I’m sorry (repeatedly)

We all make mistakes at times, me included. In fact, as a successful entrepreneur I have to make mistakes in order to succeed. The danger with over-apologising is that you fail to let the other person move on from the incident. They have to bounce back and move forward, so it’s best to apologise once, sincerely and then focus on getting a "quick win" as soon as possible to reinforce and reposition your value.

Finally, remember to choose words that are motivational, encouraging and empowering when talking to yourself.

That little voice in your head can be your biggest enemy. Don’t tell yourself you are stupid. Don’t tell yourself you can’t do something. Thoughts can become realities and the most important relationship you have is with yourself. With that in mind, be careful what you tell yourself, because you are listening.

Why you shouldn't use these six common words and phrases in the office, ever again