7 Everyday Phrases That Quietly Kill Your Leadership Potential

READING TIME - 5 MINUTES

I was once given feedback by my CEO after a meeting.

The kind of feedback that stings for a moment but then stays with you forever.

He told me this: “Your ideas are good.

But...

The way you say them makes you sound like you don’t believe them.”

That hit me hard.

And he was right.

I wasn’t aware of how much my words betrayed me.

After that day, I started paying close attention to how the C-suite spoke.

They didn’t sound smarter.

They sounded more certain.

They spoke with clarity. With ownership. With presence.

So I started to change the way I talked. And the difference was night and day.

Here are 7 phrases I learned to eliminate… and what to say instead.

1. “I’ll try”

This sounds weak and non-committal. Executives want certainty.

Say instead: “Here’s what I will do.”

2. “I think”

It makes you sound unsure of your point.

Say instead: “Based on the data, here’s my recommendation.”

3. “Sorry, but”

Apologies dilute authority, especially when they are not needed.

Say instead: “Thank you for your patience” or simply state your point directly.

4. “No problem”

Sounds casual or dismissive in high-stakes settings.

Say instead: “Happy to help” or “You’re welcome.”

5. “Does that make sense?”

This puts doubt on both you and your audience.

Say instead: “Let me know if you’d like me to expand on this.”

6. “That’s above my pay grade”

It signals small thinking and disengagement.

Say instead: “Here’s what I can do, and here’s what may need leadership’s input.”

7. “I’m not an expert, but”

You undercut your own credibility before you even begin.

Say instead: “Here’s what my experience tells me.”

The lesson is simple.

Executives aren’t just judged by results. They’re judged by how they show up in the room.

Your language either elevates you or makes you look like you don’t belong.

If you want to be seen as executive-ready, start by changing the words you use every day.

This week, catch yourself saying one of these phrases. Replace it. Notice the difference.

Because the people who rise fastest in corporate aren’t always the smartest.

They’re the ones who sound like they belong before anyone else believes it.

If this resonated, you’ll find even more in my book The Unwritten Rules of Advancing Your Career. It’s the playbook your boss won’t hand you but your career depends on.

👉 Get your copy here