Some words can lower your presence in the minds of your audience without you being aware of it. And sometimes you can use these words without even noticing.
In today’s post, Pete shares six words and phrases to listen for, and determine for yourself if they cause unintended results.
At SagePresence, we’re a skill-building company rooted in constructive feedback, so we typically avoid long lists of “don’ts.” Negative framing can send your attention in the wrong direction—especially under pressure, when your brain becomes more reactive and less intentional. But today, we’re making an exception.
Think of this as awareness training: notice these phrases when there’s no pressure, so they’re less likely to appear when the stakes are high. In presentation skills coaching, leadership communication, and AEC interview preparation, these subtle phrases can shift how your expertise is perceived. Let’s look at the most common culprits and why they create challenges.
These phrases often appear when people are trying to sound more confident than they feel. But most of the time, what they’re labeling as “obvious” isn’t obvious at all. In client communication training or group presentation coaching, these words can accidentally signal arrogance or insecurity.
Instead of strengthening confident presence, they can alienate your audience. Leave them out. They rarely add clarity—only pressure.
People apologize constantly for small presentation mistakes. But human imperfection doesn’t require an apology. In fact, apologizing after every slip draws attention to something the audience may not have even noticed.
In professional services communication, over-apologizing diminishes perceived authority. If you make a mistake, simply move on. Everyone makes them.
This filler phrase slides into speech as easily as “um” or “uh.” It adds no value, and it subtly erodes the strength of your message. In business speaking skills development and sales presentation coaching, we teach presenters to replace filler not with different words, but with silence.
Silence is more powerful than “you know.” It creates presence, not distraction.
These are the most deceptively damaging phrases. They’re often used by people who don’t want to appear arrogant or overly assertive. But in contexts like shortlist interview coaching or interview skills training for professionals, these terms weaken your perceived expertise.
You might hear someone say, “I think this is the right approach,” when what they truly mean is, “This is the right approach.” Softening language is sometimes appropriate, but when you’re being evaluated for your knowledge, precision matters. Removing these phrases signals grounded confidence and leadership communication strength.
Start by noticing. Don’t judge yourself—just observe when these phrases appear. Then ask trusted colleagues for honest feedback. How do these phrases land? Do they shift how your expertise is perceived?
In presence coaching and client engagement skills work, we teach presenters to replace weakening phrases with clarity and certainty. If you catch yourself about to say “I think,” shift to a stronger alternative: “Here’s what’s true.” If “probably” wants to slip in, replace it with a clear statement backed by your experience.
If these phrases show up casually in low-pressure situations, they will definitely show up when stakes rise—during high-profile presentations, business development training conversations, and client interviews.
By practicing intentional language now, you ensure stronger presence, clearer communication, and more persuasive storytelling for business later. Notice the words. Choose to remove the ones that hold you back. And watch how your perceived authority rises in every room you enter.
Receive weekly posts of insight and inspiration.
No Comments yet!