So, you wanna say how you really feel to your coworker, manager, or even an exec but are worried that it’ll come off as rude? Say no more. At least not until you see what Caroline Goyder (she/her), voice specialist and speech confidence coach for Elevate, suggests. Basically, she took everyone’s inner work dialogue and translated it into super profesh (and totally usable) phrases for the office and/or Slack. You tell ‘em, corporate girlies.

First, how can we hype ourselves up before we speak out at work?
Here are some methods that should help:

  • Build it up: Start small, learn a couple of phrases that you want to introduce into your work vocabulary. Once you feel comfortable with a couple of phrases, build it up and before you know it, you’ll feel ready to say what you need to say.
  • Cut down on filler words + manage your expectations: Almost half (48%) of participants associate the frequency use of “like” with nervousness, and 45% confess to using filler words more when feeling nervous. Slowing down and being intentional with what you say can help you decrease the use of filler words and therefore sound more confident. And don’t aim for perfection, it’s totally okay to make a few mistakes.

Over 50% of Zillennials (aged between 18 and 35), feel that they’ve been held back at work because of the way they speak. It’s worth mentioning that a pause is a powerful communication tool. Don’t be afraid to take a second to gather your thoughts. Pro tip: If you’re giving a presentation or in a meeting, taking a sip of your drink is a great pause tactic to give your mind time to catch up.

Now, how do we professionally say…

“You’re so wrong, it’s not even funny.”
“I appreciate your perspective, but I see it differently, and here are my reasons for that viewpoint.”

“You’re entirely capable of doing that yourself. Stop asking us to do your job!”
“I believe in your ability to handle this task independently. If you need guidance, feel free to reach out, but I trust you to manage this on your own.”

“We’re actually in charge of this project/assignment/department and you can’t bully us into doing it your way.”
“I understand your input, and as our team is responsible for this project/assignment/department the next step is to work collaboratively to find the best approach.”

“We don’t get paid enough to do this sh*t.”
“I value my role here and want to make sure I’m making the best contribution to the business. When’s a good time to speak to focus on wins, next steps, and the compensation that reflects my responsibilities and achievements?”

“FML. This meeting could’ve been an email or Slack.”
“Considering the nature of the topics discussed, perhaps future updates or discussions could be efficiently handled through email or Slack.”

“That sounds like a horrible idea.”
“I appreciate your suggestion, and I’m open to exploring alternatives. However, I have some questions about the feasibility of this idea and would like to discuss them further.”

“We already told you this a million times! Why don’t you LISTEN?!”
“I’ve mentioned this before, and I want to ensure we’re on the same page. Can we go over it again to make sure everyone is clear?”

“We haven’t heard back about our raise and/or promotion? What is taking so damn long?”
“To ensure I continue to contribute to the success of the business, I’m keen to discuss my career progression and compensation. Could we schedule a meeting to review the status of this?”

“If you can’t pay us what we deserve, what are you gonna do to keep us from quitting?”
“Given my contributions and the market value for my skills and experience, I believe it’s important to discuss compensation to ensure alignment with industry standards.”

“We’re really busy, so stop bothering us!!!”
“I’m currently handling multiple priorities, and I’d appreciate some dedicated time to focus on these key tasks. If there’s anything urgent, please let me know, and I’ll prioritize accordingly.”

“We are burnt out, literally no one is helping, and we wanna cry.”
“I’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately due to the workload. I believe it would be beneficial for the team to discuss workload distribution and explore ways to alleviate the pressure.”

“This company does not give a f*ck about its employees.”
“I believe there’s room for improvement in our employee support initiatives, and I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss ideas for enhancing our work environment.”

“Your micromanaging isn’t helping us OR making us go any faster. Back off!”
“I appreciate your guidance, and I believe I can be more effective when given the autonomy to manage my tasks. I’m confident in my ability to deliver results.”

“No one trained us on this. Actually, no one trained us at all!”
“I’ve noticed a gap in our training process, and I think organizing a training session on this topic would be beneficial for the team’s overall performance.”

“What you’re saying doesn’t make any sense.”
“I’m trying to fully understand your perspective. Could you provide more details or examples to help me grasp the concept better?”

“The way you talk to us is super rude.”
“I value clear and respectful communication. Can we work together to ensure our interactions are constructive and professional?”

What’s your advice for those who might be stressed TF out as they prepare to use one (or many) of the above phrases at their job?
The best way to help put the stresses aside and be a more confident speaker is to practice. Think of it like a driving lesson. At the start, you’re a bit wobbly and you might stall a lot, but over time you get the hang of it and can drive smoothly. Practicing what you want to say with a friend can help you, or record yourself and listen back. Then while under pressure, let the words flow a little. With the right amount of practice, you’ll be girlbossing in no time.