5 Phrases That Crush Your Credibility
Lose these to gain respect and authority with your audience
Welcome to 2022, where the fact remains that if you’re a coach, course creator, or service provider…
Your clients need to believe you know what the heck you’re talking about if you stand a chance of them wanting to work with you.
That belief gets built over time based on your credibility and authority.
How you talk and write — the words you use — matter.
So, I implore you, if you’re looking to sound (and be!) credible in 2022… let’s lose these 5 phrases:
1. “Truthfully / Honestly / If I’m being honest” — If your goal is to always act with integrity (which I hope it is), the fact you’re “honest” should go without saying.
Adding “Honestly…” before sharing your thoughts isn’t just redundant. It calls into question anything you say without the caveat.
2. “If I can do it, you can do it” — It’s often used in the fitness space, but I hear it more and more from coaches of all kinds.
Just because you lost 50lbs and kept it off or made $1M your 3rd year in business does not mean someone else can.
There are dozens of psychological, emotional, physical, cultural, and other factors that come into play. When you don’t acknowledge these, your advice can backfire.
(Thanks to my client, Precision Nutrition, for this fantastic article that brought this idea to light.)
3. “I could care less” — The most cringe-worthy mistake. And sadly, used incorrectly by people who’ve spent decades building their credibility and authority. 😩
The correct phrase is “I couldn’t care less,” — meaning there is zero room for less caring. You don’t care AT ALL.
If you could care less, you still care a bit.
4. “In my opinion / I think / I feel” — It might seem small, but adding an “I think” to your sentence also adds a layer of doubt to whatever you say.
If you’re trying to make a strong point, leave it out. You’ll come across as more confident, convincing, and credible.
5. “ASAP” — I’ve done it, and I know you have too.
“No problem, I’ll have that over to you ASAP.” Sounds good in theory, but what does As Soon As Possible mean?
All it does is leave the client on the other end wondering, “OK, but when exactly?” And when you leave your clients with more questions than answers… it only discredits you in the long run.
This list could go on… what would you add?
Comment below or email me: hello@rebeccavigelius.com.
