I don't remember what you said, I just remember how you said it. Communicating in the business world is very important and for a Consultant, this is very important. Here is a nice article in Globe and Mail that talks about what not to say.
1. Don't say: “I can’t do that” or “That’s impossible” or “That can’t be done.
Instead say: “I’ll be glad to check on that for you” or “What I can do is…” or
“Because of company policy, what I CAN do is…”
2. Don't say: “You should have…” or “You could have…” or You ought to have..
Instead say: “Please help me understand why…” or “Next time may we adopt an alternative approach….” or “I understand your challenges; let’s resolve this together…”
3. Don't say: “That’s not my job” or “I don’t get paid enough for this” or “That’s not my problem.”
Instead say: “I’ll be glad to help you accomplish that. Given my current tasks of A…B…and C…. which one of these would you like to place on back-burner while I work on this new assignment?”
4.Don't say: “I may be wrong, but…” or “This may be a dumb question, but…” or “I’m not sure about this, but…” or “This may be a silly idea, but…
Instead say: Get rid of the word "but"
5.Don't say: “Okay. I’ll try to get it finished.”
Instead say: “I’ll get it finished” or “I’ll have it on your desk by 9am.”
6. Don't say: “I think you might like this new solution we offer.”
Instead say:I believe (or I’m confident) you’re going to like this new solution we offer.”
7. Don't say: I don’t have time for this right now” or “I don’t have time to talk to you right now.
Instead say:I’d be glad to discuss this with you. I’m meeting a deadline at the moment. May I stop by your office (or phone you) in this afternoon at 3pm?
8. Don't say: "but". “Yes, our implementation process is fast, easy, and affordable….but we can’t install it until June. The “but” creates a negative that didn’t exist before, offsetting the benefits of fast, easy, and affordable.
Instead say: Replace the “but” with “and” and hear the difference: “Yes, our implementation process is fast, easy and affordable, and we can install it as early as June.” Most of the time, “and” may be easily substituted for “but,” with positive results.
9.
1. Don't say: “I can’t do that” or “That’s impossible” or “That can’t be done.
Instead say: “I’ll be glad to check on that for you” or “What I can do is…” or
“Because of company policy, what I CAN do is…”
2. Don't say: “You should have…” or “You could have…” or You ought to have..
Instead say: “Please help me understand why…” or “Next time may we adopt an alternative approach….” or “I understand your challenges; let’s resolve this together…”
3. Don't say: “That’s not my job” or “I don’t get paid enough for this” or “That’s not my problem.”
Instead say: “I’ll be glad to help you accomplish that. Given my current tasks of A…B…and C…. which one of these would you like to place on back-burner while I work on this new assignment?”
4.Don't say: “I may be wrong, but…” or “This may be a dumb question, but…” or “I’m not sure about this, but…” or “This may be a silly idea, but…
Instead say: Get rid of the word "but"
5.Don't say: “Okay. I’ll try to get it finished.”
Instead say: “I’ll get it finished” or “I’ll have it on your desk by 9am.”
6. Don't say: “I think you might like this new solution we offer.”
Instead say:I believe (or I’m confident) you’re going to like this new solution we offer.”
7. Don't say: I don’t have time for this right now” or “I don’t have time to talk to you right now.
Instead say:I’d be glad to discuss this with you. I’m meeting a deadline at the moment. May I stop by your office (or phone you) in this afternoon at 3pm?
8. Don't say: "but". “Yes, our implementation process is fast, easy, and affordable….but we can’t install it until June. The “but” creates a negative that didn’t exist before, offsetting the benefits of fast, easy, and affordable.
Instead say: Replace the “but” with “and” and hear the difference: “Yes, our implementation process is fast, easy and affordable, and we can install it as early as June.” Most of the time, “and” may be easily substituted for “but,” with positive results.
9.
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