Codie Sanchez breaks down six verbal habits that kill your credibility in meetings: apologizing before you speak, prefacing with self-doubt, tacking on vague additions, admitting you're off-topic, speaking without substance, and stating opinions without data. Cut these and people actually listen.
Chapters
I was just in a meeting and I saw this one thing happen that was killing this woman's chance of getting heard at all. And I bet a lot of you do it and you don't even realize it. So let me tell you the 6 things I hope you never say in a meeting like she did. She just got railroaded. Number 1 is don't start a sentence with, I'm sorry, especially before you're about to add value. You have nothing to apologize for. Don't say, I'm not sure if this is a dumb question. Why would you start with that? Give yourself the benefit of the doubt. Never start with, well, I just wanted to add on. Never say, I know that we're going to take I know we're totally off topic here, but I just wanna talk about this one thing. Repeat back what the person is saying. Hey, I know we're focused on revenue in this meeting. I have a bullet point on that, but I have another subject that I think is really related to the exact same thing. I don't really have much here to talk about today. Well, then don't talk. If you don't have much to talk about, don't talk at all. If you're gonna have an opinion, back it up with data. Unless you're a stud, you have a ton of experience, don't just bring opinions. Bring things backed by data. If you don't do those things, you'll get listened to way more, which means you'll make more money because you'll be more respected in business.
