30 Unprofessional Things You Should Never Say at Work

30 Unprofessional Things You Should Never Say at WorkBeing professional can feel a bit new at first. It takes some getting used to. Just like any other social arena, the working world has its own special set of rules. One of the cardinal ones is to speak and conduct oneself like a grown up. Here are 30 words and phrases you should never say at work. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) 1. Insert potty mouth phrase hereI could list all the words here that you shouldnt use, but that list would be too long. Bottom line if its a curse word, keep it for home use.2. Weve always done it likeIf someone asks you to do something you arent accustomed to, or to do it in a different way, this is the last thing you should say. Save the constructive feedback for the review.3. Im bedrngnis afraid to .A healthy degree of fear is not a bad thing. In fact, its best to have some fear and master it than to have had none at all.4. Yes (when you dont mean it)Its al ways better to say no than to dismiss someone with a yes and then disrespect them by not delivering.5. Its important.Convey the importance of a task or strategy in other ways. If you have to be obvious, youve already lost.6. Are you upset?This is almost as bad as are you militrischer abschirmdienst at me? If you have to ask you probably already know the answer.7. LikeYoure not in middle school anymora. People will judge you for using like as sentence filler.8. LiterallySame deal. Adverbs are best avoided anyway. And besides, this one is seriously overused.9. I thought you were doing that.Conveys confusion, that you dont know whats happening with your team. Also conveys that youll shirk any responsibility you can.10. Thats impossible.Might as well admit to being a quitter. Dont shut down and limit your coworkers (or yourself) from coming up with creative solutions.11. You misunderstood.Dont put the blame immediately on the other person. Try to find a better way to explain your origin al intent or meaning that doesnt shirk responsibility for communication.12. Sorry I was lateJust dont be late. Respect your time and others time. Period. If you were really sorry, you wouldnt have been late.13. Because Im in chargeYoull just be resented for being heavy-footed. Convince people to follow your lead by example and by earning their regard.14. SorryIf you did something worthy of an apology just fix it. Sorry isnt enough. And if youre just apologizing willy-nilly for anything and everythingstop. It makes you look weak an under-confident.15. Im bored.Youre not bored. Youre boring. Show a little kampagne and find something to do.16. Im busy.Even if youre too swamped to listen or to help out, find a better way to communicate this without sounding so self-centered.17. Well I.Dont one-up people. They hate it. A conversation isnt just an opportunity to tell everyone how much better your stories are than theirs. Try listening for once. Youll get your turn to shine.18. That wasnt my fault.Even if it wasnt. You look like a sell-out. Concentrate on how to fix the problem, not whose fault it is.19. I cant do all of this by myself.Sure you can And if you cant, be sure its for the right reasonsnot just that youre feeling lazy. Asking for help in the right circumstances is always okay.20. GossipThats something that you need to leave in school. Professionals focus on work and more constructive social interactions.21. Details, details.This comment is flip and makes you look lazy and inattentive. Details are crucial.22. I was just doing what I was told.This is just trying to blame your superiors instead of your co-workers and it will almost never end well.23. I have a brilliant plan.Plans are one thing execution is another. Execute your plan, then call it brilliant.24. Ill do that later.Sorry. True professionals dont procrastinate. Clear your to-do list as early and as often as you can.25. I know better.Even if you do, there is no reason to condescend. Youll look lik e a jerk and an unprofessional one at that.26. Mumble, mumbleSpeak at an appropriate volume and enunciate your words. If no one can understand you, youll never get anywhere.27. Wow that chick/dude is This is an office, not a club. Keep your outside-work observations to yourself.28. Thats not going to happen.There are ways to refuse or give a no without being a condescending blowhard. And without getting people to root against you.29. I quit (or Im done)Spare us the drama. Prove that you can keep it cooleven when actually quitting.30. SilenceEven if youre shy, you must speak up now and then. Otherwise people will forget you exist or theyll make up a story to fill in the blanks. Youre much better off being open and up front.30 Phrases Unprofessional People Cant Stop Saying At Work