forbes magazine article called “ worst words B u s i n e s s F i n a n c e

For each Discussion, you are responsible for two parts. Be sure to POST YOUR RESPONSE TO YOUR GROUP DISCUSSION topic, and also,
please COMMENT ON ANOTHER STUDENT POST by bringing something new to the
conversation (another perspective, disagree, other facts, another
concept, different company, etc.). Please avoid posting a simple
agreement or compliment, and reply with a well thought out comment.

Group #1 Discussion Topic:

Worst Words to Use at Work? Displaying Confidence with Words (LO 5.5)

In a Forbes magazine article
called “Worst Words to Say at Work,” business consultant and
psychotherapist Linnda Durre listed nine words or phrases that show
someone is not confident.¹¹ These phrases, according to Durre, cause others to perceive you as undependable and untrustworthy. To read the article, go to class=”screenreader-only”> (Links to an external site.).
Then respond to 3-4 of the following, which are excerpted from her
article, with four to five sentences about whether you agree or disagree
with her point of view:

1. Try is a weasel word. “Well,
   I’ll try,” some people say. It’s a cop-out. They’re just giving you lip
   service when they probably have no real intention of doing what you ask.
2. Whatever— This word is a
   trusted favorite of people who want to dismiss you, diminish what you
   say, or get rid of you quickly …. It’s an insult and a verbal slap in
   the face. It’s a way to respond to a person without actually responding.
3. Maybe and I don’t know—
   People will sometimes avoid making a decision and hide behind these
   words. Sometimes during a confrontation people will claim not to know
   something or offer the noncommittal response “maybe,” just to avoid
   being put on the spot.
4. I’ll get back to you—When
   people need to buy time or avoid revealing a project’s status, they will
   say, “I’ll get back to you,” and they usually never do.
5. If—Projects depend on everyone doing his or her part. People who use if
   are usually playing the blame game and betting against themselves. They
   like to set conditions rather than assuming a successful outcome.
6. Yes, but…—This is another
   excuse. You might give your team members suggestions or solutions and
   they come back to you with “Yes, but …” as a response. They don’t really
   want answers, help, or solutions.
7. I guess…—This is usually said
   in a weak, soft-spoken, shoulder-shrugging manner. It’s another attempt
   to shirk responsibility—a phrase is muttered only when people half agree
   with you, but want to leave enough leeway to say, “Well, I didn’t
   really know …. I was only guessing.”
8. We’ll see…—How many times did
   we hear our parents say this? We knew they were buying time, avoiding a
   fight or confrontation, or really saying no.