6 phrases you should never use again at work

There are some things you shouldn't say at work. (Source: Getty)

Just as there are words that candidates should avoid in job applications or interviews, there are phrases used by company leaders – and their staff – that won’t be so well-received around the office.

If you’re using or hearing these phrases frequently, alarm bells about your company’s underlying culture should start to ring.

According to business management consultancy Corporate Edge’s director, John Colbert, there are six phrases you should use less rather than more:

1. “But that’s the way we’ve always done it.”

Just because something’s been done a certain way doesn’t mean it should stay that way, Colbert pointed out.

“Companies that grow and innovate are known for questioning preconceived assumptions and challenging the status quo,” he said.

“Getting stuck with what’s comfortable can be highly detrimental, and leaves you in a vulnerable position for competitors to challenge.”

2. “That’s not my problem” or “That’s not my job.”

Companies that grow and thrive encourage a ‘team first’ approach, where team members are willing to go outside of their typical scope to solve problems.

“The ‘it’s not my problem’ attitude is often a reflection of a competitive or toxic culture,” Colbert said.

3. “This might be a bad idea, but…”

You might be tempted to downplay your idea, especially if you’re not confident in it, but prefacing your idea like this has already diminished your credibility.

“People will be more likely to think it’s a bad idea if you have framed it that way. If you have an idea, and you believe in it, act assertively and take ownership for it.”

4. “That won’t work in our industry.”

Which business ever flourished from standing still?

“Great businesses are able to learn from world’s best practice and translate that into something unique to their company,” Colbert said.

For example, while your marketing team is looking to Nike for inspiration, your customer experience may look to insights from Apple.

“Yes, you might be operating in an entirely different industry, but there are always principles and learnings that could be applied.”

5. “The customer is always right.”

Are you surprised to see this one on the list? “This one can be slightly controversial,” said Colbert.

“While it is important to take on board and listen to feedback from your customers, at the end of the day you cannot implement every bit of feedback and there are sometimes customer service situations where the customer is in fact, wrong.”

You won’t be able to please absolutely everyone in business, and by trying to do so, you might end up pleasing none, he added.

6. “Everyone else is doing it.”

This is never an excuse to dive head-first into something new, Colbert advised. For instance, when Instagram influencers became more prominent, many more businesses began to invest in an Instagram strategy.

“While for a lot of businesses this is a wise business decision, Instagram influencers certainly do not work for every kind of company,” Colbert pointed out.

“While it is definitely worthwhile staying abreast of and exploring new trends, don’t just jump on the bandwagon.”

According to Colbert, before any decision is made, ask yourself: ‘Why are we doing this? How will it benefit our business?’

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