Here are 9 phrases that successful people eliminate from their communication. See if you can too:

1. Positive improvement. As opposed to negative improvement?

2. End result. The result of something takes place at the end. Cut the word “end.”

3. Collaborate together. When you collaborate, you’re working with others. The word “together” is redundant.

4. Past history.  All history is in the past.

5. Serious crisis. I don’t have to tell you that it’s serious. All crises are serious.

6. Totally unique. There aren’t degrees of unique. Something is either unique or it isn’t.

7. Unexpected surprise. If you’re expecting something to happen, it’s not a surprise.

8. Unintended mistake. If you intended for something to happen, it wasn’t a mistake; it was a poor decision.

9. New Innovations. As opposed to what…old innovations? Then it would not be an innovatin right?

Stop using non-committal language.

If someone asks you if you can please do something-don’t answer:
“I should be able to”
“I’ll try”
“I’ll see if I can work on it.”

Commit yourself and answer: “Yes I will do it by end of today” Give a timeline when you believe the task will be accomplished by – if this can’t be met keep the person updated.
What are some unnecessary phrases that drive you crazy?

Here are some more phrases suggested by other professionals within my network – thank you all for sharing these with me!

Basic fundamentals
Close proximity
Direct confrontation
False pretense
Reverted back
Protruded out
Clearly evident
My personal opinion
Plan ahead
Pre-plan

Advance warning (a cousin to “advance planning”)
Absolutely essential (“absolutely” anything, along the lines of “totally” anything)
Add an additional: To add is to provide another of something. Additional is extraneous.
Added bonus: A bonus is an extra feature, so added is redundant.
Definite decision: Decisions may not be final, but when they are made, they are unequivocal and therefore definite, so one should not be described as “a definite decision.”
Foreign imports: Imports are products that originate in another country, so their foreign nature is implicit and the word foreign is redundant.
Free gift: A gift is by definition free (though cynics will dispute that definition), so free is extraneous.
Postpone until later: To postpone is to delay. Later is superfluous.
Unexpected surprise: No surprise is expected, so the modifier is extraneous.
Unintended mistake: A mistake is an inadvertently erroneous action. The lack of intention is implicit.
Usual custom: A custom is something routinely and repeatedly done or observed, and usual is redundant.
In any way shape or form
Irregardless
“12 items or less” instead of “12… fewer”.

haydee5

For more information on our Packaged For Success program, read here. Connect with us through our website, by phone or e-mail:

USA Branch – Tel: 951 970 4347 (Haydee Antezana)
SA Branch – Tel: (011) 616 9712 / 082 3301558 (Sharon King Gabrielides)
e-mail: ask@haydeeantezana.com

951-970-3853