So imagine this, you’re standing on a stage, looking out at a sea of expectant faces. You’ve rehearsed your presentation a dozen times. You’ve got the presentation, the data, and the story. You open your mouth to build credibility, and the first thing you say is:
“I’m not an expert but…”
Now, what you don’t notice is how this single statement is swaying the audience in a certain way. In public speaking, what you say can have consequences; every single phrase should be well thought out to convey your authority over a certain topic.
You’re there to build trust after all, to position yourself as credible. However, without realising it, you use a few phrases that do more harm than good, slowly eroding your credibility among your audience.
I’m going to tell you about 7 such phrases that kill the trust of your audience in you, and what you can say instead. Let’s dive in.
1. “I’m not an expert…”
Let’s start with the one that I already mentioned. You want to avoid sounding arrogant. But while giving a speech, a phrase like this will surely make the audience question your authority on the subject. You’re practically saying that you’re not an expert, so they should take whatever you say next lightly.
What can you say instead?
Downplaying yourself is not good. So, instead, you can tell them about your experience. By saying something like “I’ve worked with over 200 clients, and I’ve seen this issue show up repeatedly”. Such a sentence doesn’t destroy your credibility and lets the audience know that you’re the person who knows their stuff.
2. “This might be a stupid question…”
Audience participation is essential, but be cautious not to downplay yourself by saying something like this. Telling the audience that what you’re about to say is “stupid” makes them question your credibility. Or it can also make you sound arrogant, which can have equally drastic effects.
What can you say instead?
You can maintain an inclusive atmosphere while also asking your question in a way that doesn’t undermine your credibility. You can phrase your question as “So a question I often hear is…”.
3. “I think…”
Sure, you do think it. But don’t let your audience know that. They’re here to see you speak confidently on a topic; they don’t want uncertainty from you. Saying “I think” is okay once in a while, but saying it after every sentence or so can really work against your credibility.
What can you say instead?
Be declarative, show your insights with confidence, with phrases such as “Research shows this…” or “data backs this up…”. Don’t let them poke holes in your story and your credibility.
4. “Does that make sense?”
I know it seems caring, you’re simply asking them if they understand what you just spoke about. But this can come off as patronizing. You don’t want to antagonize your audience by giving off the wrong impression while speaking, so avoid this phrase when you can.
What can you say instead?
Instead, try asking in a much gentler way by saying phrases such as “I’d love to hear your thoughts” or “any questions so far?”.
5. “I’m sorry…” (especially when you haven’t done anything)
Apologizing for nothing is the biggest trust-killer when it comes to such phrases. You might think that saying sorry might make your audience sympathise with you, but that’s not often the case; instead, they will again question your credibility. Don’t apologise for rambling, don’t apologise for saying something you believe in.
If you apologize too much, the audience will think that it’s not worth their time, hurting your credibility in the process.
What can you say instead?
Instead of apologising, take a deep breath, rest, and tell your audience to think about what you just said, ask them questions, and tell them a story. You can also continue by saying “moving on”.
6. “I’m just going to…”
You don’t want to sound unimportant; you’re speaking, and you are the most crucial person in the room. The audience expects you to be aware of that. Saying a phrase like “I’m just going to…” makes it sound like you’re asking for permission, as if you’re not confident enough. Your credibility will suffer, and you wouldn’t even know.
What can you say instead?
Instead, you can say phrases such as “I have some interesting insights to share with you” or “let’s explore this further”.
7. “Bear with me…”
Sometimes it can be necessary, but your audience doesn’t notice or focus on your mistakes, so why bring attention to them yourself? Say it when you absolutely have to, but avoid this phrase if you made a small mistake along the way. It happens, and once you move on, the audience will move on with you.
What can you say instead?
If a hiccup does occur during your speaking session, just say “one moment”; your audience will wait for you. And a phrase like this doesn’t hurt your credibility either.
When you’re speaking, the audience wants to know that they’re in capable hands; they want to know if the person they’re listening to is confident and credible.
Your credibility is a crucial aspect of how your audience perceives you, and sometimes using the phrases I mentioned above can erode your credibility. So, try to avoid these phrases and be more confident in yourself and in the things that you say.
Your audience wants to trust you; being confident is the key to that.
If you’re curious to know more about public speaking in general, then let me know in the comments. I’d love to read them!
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