5 things you never say at work

You know what to say to ace the interview or close a big deal, but what you say in your daily life around the office can impact not only your work relationships but also your career.  Most people know never to discuss intimate details of their personal life or political beliefs, but many phrases that may seem commonplace in routine office banter may be sending the wrong message.

Here are the top five things to never say, according to careerbuilder.com:

“To be honest with you…”

Sometimes it’s not what you say, but rather how you say it that’s the problem. This phrase can send a strong, unintended message – you need to identify when you are being honest. Instead, avoid this phrase altogether and say what you need to say in a straightforward manner.

“Don’t tell anyone I said this, but…”

If it’s really a secret, keep it to yourself. Don’t expect your gossip-loving coworkers to keep quiet on this new information. Plus, keep in mind that you are never exempt from becoming the subject of office chatter yourself.

“I haven’t had a raise in two years.”

First, the best rule of thumb is to eliminate all talk of salary with your coworkers. Office gossip has a way of spreading like wild fire, and you wouldn’t want your boss to think you would rather gossip about a problem than deal with it in a professional manner. But, even when taking up this discussion with the boss, this phrase has no place in the conversation. Longevity doesn’t necessarily equal productivity, which is often the basis of raises. When asking for a raise, highlight your accomplishments instead of your seniority to prove that the raise is merited.

“It’s not my fault.”

Of course, you probably realize not to say this when you make a mistake; deflecting rightful blame is never the best policy. But what do you say when it really isn’t your fault? Whether the mistake is yours or not doesn’t matter. What matters is making sure the problem is solved and doesn’t happen again.  Anyone can point the finger, but the office stars will spend more time problem solving than blaming.

“I just don’t have enough time for that.”

Chances are everyone in your office is busy, so making excuses about your time crunch isn’t going to help your case. Instead, you need to realistically evaluate your workload before you agree to take on other projects. If your boss asks you to do something and you are already swamped, mention how busy your schedule is, but add that you can take on the project if you re-prioritize other work. This will show not only that you take every task seriously, but more importantly, that you’re a team player.   

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