5 phrases you should never say to your colleagues

Workplaces thrive on efficient communications and collaboration. Although having a certain degree of professionalism and a high level of productivity matter, the way one talks to co-workers significantly affects relationships and may damage reputation in the office. In some cases, innocent phrases that do not seem particularly harsh might be perceived by colleagues as rude and unwelcoming. Experts claim that effective workplace communication includes selecting your words carefully, especially when stressed or arguing. Specific phrases might lead to conflicts and misunderstandings even if you mean no offence. Five phrases experts recommend avoiding in professional settings are outlined below and explained why they have a negative impact on workplace communication.

The reason this phrase might cause negative perceptions in the workplace lies in the way it sounds to co-workers. Although employees must set professional boundaries, saying that something is not their job may seem very dismissive towards colleagues. According to experts, managers would prefer hearing the explanations regarding your inability to perform certain tasks rather than refusal. Instead of responding in such an unsociable manner, consider being more polite and helpful.

As with the first phrase, this one may appear extremely negative to co-workers, especially since its use implies criticism in absolute terms. Experts state that in order to give valid advice and avoid potential conflicts, criticism must be focused solely on a specific situation and never targeted at an employee's general performance or personal traits. Since many arguments in the workplace are emotional, experts suggest talking about problems calmly.

While this phrase aims at making a person less emotional, it tends to irritate most people who hear it during discussions. Colleagues who are currently feeling frustrated are likely to perceive such statements as invalidating and condescending. According to experts, instead of dismissing the feelings of others, it would be better to respond in a polite way and show empathy. Such phrases include "Let's figure this out together" or "I understand this is stressful".

Although sometimes people mean it kindly, this phrase might easily be perceived negatively, which is especially true when someone tries to share information or give you advice. While the statement is completely innocent in this case, saying "I already knew that" right away discourages further communication and collaboration. As per the experts, workplaces thrive on cooperation and openness. Being polite might contribute greatly to developing positive relations

While sometimes meetings really lack meaningfulness, referring to them as pointless in front of colleagues is likely to ruin the atmosphere in the workplace. Experts argue that insulting statements might badly affect the professional image of those who made such remarks. Instead of offending co-workers, specialists encourage giving constructive advice and suggesting some ways to improve productivity in the future.