By : Fazmina Samat

We've all been there – those moments at work when the wrong words slip out, leaving a sense of awkwardness or misunderstanding. Communication at the office is not for the faint-hearted and sometimes we need a little help to stay balanced. Here’s a list of common phrases that can cause friction and how to reword them into positive, solution-oriented statements. Let’s transform our workplace interactions, one phrase at a time.

Don’t say : “This isn’t my problem”

Say : “I’ll be happy to help, but let me see how I can schedule this with my current task”

Don’t say : “There’s no way we can do that”

Say : “This seems challenging, how about we brainstorm on how to do it?”

Don’t say : “I don’t know”

Say : “I’m not aware of it right now, but I’ll find out and get back to you”

Don’t say : “I’m so bored”

Say : “I would love to take on more responsibility, is there anything that I can help with?”

Don’t say : “This is how we have always done it”

Say : “I’m used to a different approach but I’m always open to new ideas”

Don’t say : “I just assumed….”

Say : “I interpretated as …………, but I should I have confirmed”

Don’t say : “I was just joking”

Say : “I shouldn’t have said that, I am sorry”

Don’t say : “I’ll do it later”

Say : “I will get it done by ………., and will update you accordingly”

Don’t say : “This isn’t fair”

Say : “Can we discuss how this decision was made? I’d like to know the reasoning”

Don’t say : “Oh my bad”

Say : “I see the mistake, I’ll correct it right away. It won't happen again”

Don’t say : “I don’t have time for this”

Say : “I’m currently finishing up a few priorities, but I can help later or find someone else who can”

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