Three words to avoid in a business conversation

(Notes from a session with Mike Aquilera, communication expert, with personal modification)

1. Hope
It is a softening word. Instead of saying “I hope to hear back from you”, a better way should be “I am looking forward to hear back from you”.
“I hope my qualification, our service, our technology etc will meet your need” should be changed to “ I believe we will deliver …I believe my qualification…..”

2. Don’t
It is a simple negation word. But imply the opposite.
If we came across someone with a gun, if we say don’t shoot. We are implying we are afraid he is going to shoot. Instead we should say stay calm, something more in the positive aspect.

3. Try
“Try” sends out weak message to people, meaning you are not sure.
Let me try to explain, suggesting you are not sure if you can explain.
Instead, we should just confidently say: Please let me explain.”
A friends invits you to lunch, if you reply “I will try to be there”. Most of the time, your friends will not count on you to be there.

In business conversations, we need to inject positive, confident, trustworthy impression and relationships, so let us avoid using these three words as much as we can.