LINGUISTICS // STATUS

7 Words That Kill Your Authority (And What to Say Instead)

In the hierarchy of communication, status is not taken; it is signaled. If you use these 7 words, you are signaling submission before you even finish your sentence.

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1. "Just" (The Minimizer)

"I just wanted to check in..."
Why it fails: It implies you are an interruption. It begs for permission to exist.
The Fix: Delete it. "I am checking in..."

2. "Sorry" (The Submissive)

"Sorry to bother you..."
Why it fails: Unless you actually spilled coffee on them, do not apologize for doing your job.
The Fix: "Do you have a minute?" or "Thank you for waiting."

3. "I think" (The Uncertainty)

"I think we should go with Option A."
Why it fails: It introduces doubt. Leaders don't "think"; they assess and recommend.
The Fix: "My recommendation is Option A." or simply "We should go with Option A."

4. "Does that make sense?" (The Validation Seeker)

Why it fails: It implies you explained it poorly or you need their approval.
The Fix: "Do you have any questions?" or "What are your thoughts?"

5. "Try" (The Non-Committal)

"I'll try to get that done."
Why it fails: It pre-loads an excuse for failure. Yoda was right.
The Fix: "I will get that done." or "I can't do that by Friday, but I can do it by Monday."

6. "Actually" (The Defensive)

"Actually, the data says..."
Why it fails: It sounds like a correction or a "gotcha." It creates resistance.
The Fix: State the fact directly. "The data says..."

7. "Maybe" (The Indecisive)

Why it fails: It kills momentum. In high-stakes environments, a wrong decision is often better than no decision.
The Fix: "Yes." "No." or "It depends on X."