

But in a professional setting, it not only signals a potential lack of self-confidence to others, but it also can erode trust and hurt your credibility. For example, you may think saying “like” a lot is harmless as it’s such a common thing to do. Using filler words can be such a tough habit to kick, yet it’s so important to get rid of it. People who use the five phrases below tend to project very low self-confidence, so you can start by banning these communication habits from your vocabulary. “The more a person shows a lack of language skill, the less confident they appear,” says Joseph. So if you want to appear confident, improving your language skills is a must - not a luxury. Using the wrong language can be seen as an indicator of lack of preparedness, hence lack of confidence.” “Because language carries power, and in order to be seen as a person of good standing, professionals should place more emphasis on understanding the fundamentals of power in conversation. Wondering what you can do to avoid inadvertently self-sabotaging when you open your mouth? Aim to understand conversation dynamics and be mindful of the way you communicate, says Joseph: “When I open up an email from someone desiring to work with me, I can tell in two sentences if it is someone who will work diligently or not.” Your words can even make the difference between getting an opportunity or missing out on one. Throughout my career, I have noticed that professionals do not take the time to communicate their ideas properly in spoken and written ways of communication,” says linguist, blogger, author and publicist Petrona Joseph. “It is essential to use proper tone, semantics, and clarity when communicating. Why? Because language holds power, and the way you use language reveals a lot about you.

Some people come across as confident and competent by just uttering a few words while others speak for a couple of minutes and convey insecurity. 5 Phrases That Could Be Making You Sound Less Confident Than You Feel
