No Problem and Other Negative Expressions to Avoid

Written by Gail Zack Anderson | Edited by Rory Hart
Sections of this topic
    Upset employee screaming in an office room

    Avoiding No Problem and Other Negative Expressions

    How often have you heard the following phrases?

    stressNo problem

    I can’t do that

    You’ll have to

    I’m not going to discuss that

    I’m not going to take up your time

    I’m not going to go into detail

    That will never work

    It’s a good idea, but

    It is so easy to fall into the habit of using negative expressions or saying what you aren’t going to do. The problem is people would rather hear positives, and even remember them better. Using positive expressions helps you to be seen as a team player, a problem-solver, and a go-to person. So let’s try turning these expressions into something more positive.

    Better:

    My pleasure, or you’re welcome

    What I can do is, or let’s see what we can do

    Would you, or would you mind

    Here is what I can say

    I will make this brief

    I will provide a brief overview, or I will stay high-level

    Let’s see how we can make this work

    It’s a good idea, and…

    Next time you hear one of these or other negative expressions, see if you can discover a more positive way to say it. And then try using positive expressions as often as you can.

    Gail Zack Anderson