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4 Phrases that get you perceived unprofessional in the workplace

In the last couple of months, I have had to interview a couple of young people for senior roles in our growing nutrition company, Augustsecrets.

The whole process has exposed me to a lot about the concerns such as self-confidence, professionalism and the essence of being well put together especially in the workplace or business.

First, like I shared with my colleague, employers also have a lot to learn from potential candidates as much as we have to impart them. I have personally taken lessons for myself from the candidates and processes as well.

Maybe I should have titled this as ‘Lessons I learnt whilst interviewing for managerial roles’ Lol.

We learn every day, until we take our last breath.

There are words, body languages and little cons that makes us pass off as unreliable, unprofessional and incapable enough to take responsibilities, leadership roles at the workplace or business.

You are welcome to the new world of work where psychological concerns such as critical thinking, emotional intelligence and composure matters as much as technical expertise.

Consideration is given largely to these issues as education is now globally recognized as beyond certificates, and experience is no longer determined by the number of years but results you can bring to the table.

For women, it is not helping that we have been trying to find their feet on managerial roles across the world, except for African women leading the pack at an impressive, but not so high 25% already. (As recorded by McKinsey & Co in 2019)

It is imperative that we identify some of these words or phrases.

1. “I Think”: This phrase gives people the impression that you are not sure of what you’re offering or suggesting.

Even if you’re unsure about a point, an offer or idea, its best to avoid this phrase.

Salesmen should definitely never make use of this because it shows the potential customer that they are unsure of the quality of what they are selling. If as a sales man you are unsure of the product you sell, how does a prospective customer believe in it?

Alternative: ‘I believe’ or ‘I suggest’ or ‘I consider’ or ‘I am sure that’

2. “You Guys”: This phrase is often used in less formal setting such as amidst friends, and on social media. Millennial need to take an extra care to avoid the use of this at work.

The constant use does not only make you sound professional, but a tad hardhearted.

If there’s a challenge in a department different from yours, never forget it’s still the same company and everyone is responsible.

For instance, if on a job interview and you’re asked to role-play or make suggestions about best practices on your intending role, never use ‘you guys’. You need to assume you are a part of the company already.

People might forget what you said, but would hardly forget how you made them feel. You therefore need to learn to make people feel important, and this includes your potential or existing customer or boss.

Another interesting one is the use of ‘Dear’ but that is a discussion for another day because it is controversially laden with cultural intonations in Nigeria where I come from.

Alternative to ‘You Guys’:

“We” or “You”

‘We need to work on this’

‘I suggest we take this up immediately.’

3. “Just”: Avoid too many uses of this words in between your sentences especially when expressing emphasis in official settings. Eventually it usually ends up making you pass out as indifferent or cold.

“I just think that it will be good”

“I just wanted to…

4. “I don’t know”: Months after we started our business and I employed our first 2 staff, I debarred us all from using this phrase.

I did it on purpose to establish our culture of unity of purpose and focus on our vision as a growing company.

When you constantly use this as an employee, a customer service officer, or any position at all, it displays you have little regard for your time and efforts in the company.

It also portrays a lack of repute to the company and to the customer.

Does this mean you must have accurate answers to all questions thrown at you? Of course not.

Alternative:

‘Let me get back to you please’

‘Can you give me a few minutes to get back to you please?’

This affords you the time to make findings about the problem and truly get back to the customer.

BODY LANGUAGE:

There are simple etiquette that could blow out your chances at interviews, proposals or business or promotional meetings.

Without speaking, some body languages signify a sheer lack of seriousness & confidence, no matter how smart you speak.

Here are some of them of the questionable body languages to avoid:

1. Shaking your laps while in a formal meeting

2. Twitching your fingers, biting your nails or caressing your hair or beards

3. Cowering your shoulders while sitting or standing: (A sign of low confidence my mom warned me against)

4. Slouching your body or resting your back/shoulders on the seat during an official conversation or interview

5. Rolling your chair side to side or staring fully on your phone whilst claiming to be listening to people speaking.

In close relation to body language would be physical looks and body odours. As a rule of thumb, it is advised to appear simple when meeting with a customer, client or employer. If unsure about your body or mouth odours, it is advisable to always have mint bubble gums, body colognes and wipes with you to get organized and confident.

At all times within the workplace, heels that are inches higher than comfortable for you, hair or jewelry you have to keep adjusting, and dresses you have to keep hands constantly on all through in official meetings are huge turn offs. They will not only distract you and your colleagues or customers, but would get you tired and irritable too often.

We owe ourselves a duty to personal growth and to becoming a person of higher value in the workplace and business. I believe it begins, thus, with little things.

If we are going to be concerned about youth empowerment in relation to employ-ability and career growth, then basic etiquette that encompasses personal development and composure should not be shoved aside.

The rate of unemployment in Africa is alarming; Nigeria’s has reportedly risen by 4% from 23.1% to 27.1% as at 2020 Q2 in just 24 months. In the same vein, the dearth of growth into the leadership roles by young people is not something to be ecstatic about.

There are so many lessons such as these, which are not thought in the walls of the classroom that young people need to personally groom themselves on.

These are lessons I learnt over time myself and I thought to share.

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