If you start emails or conversations like this:

“Sorry to bother you…”
“I was just wondering if…”
“When you have a minute…”
“I could be wrong but…”
“Just a quick one…”

Please stop.

All of these throwaway expressions make you sound insecure and uncertain. How can someone trust you if it sounds like you don’t trust yourself?
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This is what the other person hears/reads:
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I feel like a burden.
I can’t decide.
Your time is more important than mine.
I’m not confident in my own ability.
I can’t wait to get off this call.

Please take a moment to rephrase your emails with less apologetic language and communicate with confidence.

It’s really simple.

Start with a thank you.

“Thanks for your time on this project.”
“Thanks for waiting for me.”
“Thanks for listening to my opinion.”
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If you take one thing from this post, it’s to eliminate the word ‘just’.
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Are you guilty of any of these? Will you make an effort to stop?
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