15 Phrases That Might Be Preventing You from Advancing in Your Career
Your words have power, especially in the workplace; what you say can influence how others perceive you, particularly regarding career advancement. While you might be doing great work, specific phrases or attitudes can unintentionally signal to your boss that you’re not ready for a promotion. Here are the things you might be saying that could be holding you back from moving up the career ladder and how to reframe them for success.
“That’s Not My Job”
Limiting your boundaries by saying, ‘That’s not my job’ might sound good, but it could also signify that you do not want to do anything beyond your role. Also, people often get promoted for showing initiative and being willing to do extra work, even when they fall outside the job’s requirements. Instead of rejecting tasks, offer a solution or delegate work to benefit your team, using this as an opportunity to show your team leads and problem-solving skills.
“I Don’t Know”
Admitting you don’t know something is important, but constantly saying “I don’t know” without attempting to find answers can make you seem unprepared or unengaged. Promotions are often given to those who demonstrate resourcefulness and can figure things out independently. Instead of stopping at “I don’t know,” follow up with a plan to find the answer or suggest an action you can take to resolve the issue.
“I Will Try”
The phrase “I’ll try” creates a total lack of explicit commitment, leading your boss to believe you are not wholly assured of the undertaking. In this respect, a competitive work environment demands confident and decisive leaders. In place of stated phrases such as “I will attempt,” one should use words with a more positive tone such as “I will” or “I can do that.’ This creates an impression that you are reliable and will get the job done, which is the approach that earns people promotions.
“That’s Impossible”
Such utterances as “That’s impossible” are very discouraging and tend to end discussions and make you look like a bigot. Employers consider as valuable employees those who can solve problems and come up with unique solutions due to some situations. Do not just flat-out reject the idea, muttering, ‘That is impossible!’ Instead, do the following: ‘That is quite complicated, but maybe we could attempt this.’ This highlights that you’re ready to solve complex problems and develop the best solutions – a quality of leaders.
“I Can’t Do That”
Admitting to your boss or team that you can no longer do this may seem like you are negatively disposed of or afraid of your capability or competence. Promotions may be awarded to those employees who wish to act beyond their comfort level and learn new things. If you are presented with a task that challenges you, instead of saying I can’t do that, tell yourself; I do not know how yet, but I will learn. This is a good sign of initiative or a growth mindset – two things everyone needs for that promotion.
“I Don’t Have Time”
The struggle of declaring “I don’t have time” can be deceiving and can seem like you are too busy to attend to different tasks or take up responsibilities. Many opportunities are given to those employees who are good at time management and can handle more than one task. Don’t just say no to tasks; use a template such as, “I am currently on X, but I will begin Y when I am done.” It indicates that you are proactive, well-organized, prioritized, and can address more tasks when needed.
“I Don’t Have the Skills for That”
Saying, “I don’t have the skills for that,” might make you seem unwilling to try or learn. It can give the impression that you’re not open to growth or taking on new challenges. Instead, say, “I haven’t done this before, but I’m ready to learn and give it a try.” This shows you’re eager to grow and take on challenges, which is what managers look for in someone ready to move up. Showing that you’re willing to adapt and grow can set you apart from others.
“I’m Just Following Orders”
Saying, “I’m just following orders,” can make you seem like you’re not thinking for yourself or trying to improve things. It might come across as though you’re only doing the bare minimum and avoiding responsibility. Instead, say something like, “I followed the instructions, but I also thought of a few ideas to make it even better.” This shows that you’re taking initiative and adding value to your work. Offering creative solutions can demonstrate your leadership potential.
“That’s Not My Problem”
Telling, “That’s not my problem,” will make you look non-interested or indifferent towards their business. On the other hand, promotions are given to people who show an attachment to the organizational possessions and are willing to do something for the company. Do not avoid a situation and withdraw; instead, try to volunteer to do something for the initiator of a specific issue or offer a possible solution to a problem. This demonstrates leadership and commitment to the cause of the team, and two qualities that have a likelihood of landing one a promotion.
“I’m Happy Where I Am”
While being content in your role is excellent, constantly saying, “I’m happy where I am,” can suggest to your boss that you’re not interested in career growth. Promotions often require a desire to take on new challenges and responsibilities. Instead of giving the impression that you’re complacent, express enthusiasm for learning new things or taking on more responsibility. This tells your boss you’re ambitious and ready to take on the latest opportunities.
“I Don’t Need Help”
By stating, “I don’t need help,” you will be seen as an independent person who does not want to work with others. Rewards are primarily provided to team players who demonstrate abilities to manage people. This is much more effective than simply rejecting help, saying, “Thank you. I just do things independently but will return if I need help.” This will demonstrate that you are willing to delegate work and understand when to call on other people, which is very important when moving up the corporate ladder.
“I’m Waiting For The Right Opportunity”
It makes people look like they are waiting for something better and do not want to grab the bull by the horns. Generally, promotions are awarded to those who make chances occur by reaching out for a job, irrespective of the timing. Instead of waiting, get ahead of your colleagues by seeking projects, volunteering, or gaining new expertise. This approach indicates to the management that you are eager and willing to promote as much space as is available in the organization.
“I Don’t Want More Responsibility”
Declining more responsibility can be interpreted as an organization’s signals that one is unsuitable for promotion. Additional tasks generally accompany promotion; if you are not ready to receive more, your manager will think you are not interested in a promotion. When one feels overwhelmed, discussing how more work can be handled is much more constructive than simply saying ‘no’ to taking on more work. Instead, you might suggest a phrase like this: “I would like to accept the offer to assume more duties, but let me add that I have too much on my plate right now.”
“I’m Too Busy For That”
When you say, “I’m too busy for that,” it can make you sound like you’re not open to taking on new tasks or helping out. It might give the impression that you’re too focused on your own work to handle anything else. Instead of saying that, try something like, “I’m currently working on X, but I can start Y as soon as I finish this.” This shows that you’re organized and able to manage multiple tasks at once. It also lets others know you’re willing to help and are good at prioritizing your responsibilities.
“I Deserve A Promotion”
Although one has to be assertive for one’s needs, nobody wants to hear, ‘I deserve a promotion.’ Decision-making is not influenced by how long an employee has served or how this individual feels about a particular course of action. Do not ask for the promotion, but talk about what you have done for yourself and how you could benefit the company. I suggest stating, “I think I have contributed sufficiently, and I want to discuss my prospects for increased responsibilities.”
How you speak at work or the language you use can determine success or lack thereof in your workplace and, therefore, must be well managed. It can help to support your statements with specific keywords, such as damaging or passive phrases, which can be changed to something more proactive and positive, which shows you’re ready for more responsibility and to lead the team. In the language you use at the workplace, you must portray yourself as a worthy nominee for a promotion and express confidence and commitment in your team and organization.
More For You
Having a boss who micromanages can make work tough and stressful. It might feel like they don’t trust you to handle your tasks on your own. Here are some signs to help you know if your boss is micromanaging.
This article was first published on the RB ITALIA Blog.
