How to be Professional at Work

How to be Professional at WorkWhile you dont want to create a phony professional persona at work that doesnt make you feel comfortable or like youre being yourself, there are a few hundertprozentigs that should be stricken from your vocabularyat least at the office, if not beyond.These are words that, fairly or unfairly, can easily undermine your credibility and professionalism. Dont give anyone an excuse to doubt you.Just say no toLikeI like pizza is fine. So are similes that sunset is like a painting. So is the thing you do on Facebook. What isnt fine is using this word as conversational filler, or a verbal tic. Shes, like, so pretty it, like, hurts to look at her. Im like wow. Do yourself a favor and try to notice every time you say like in these schwimmbad ways for a few hours, or a day. Then try and charge yourself a dollar every time you do it. Its a tough habit to noticeeven tougher to breakbut it has to be done.AlmostTheres nothing wrong with this one, grammatically. It just implies well, not getting the job done. In a work environment, when youre trying to convince peers and superiors of your capabilities and butt-kicking potential, you can find a better way to express yourself than almost.You knowThis is a lazy bit of conversational filler. The person you are talking to either does or doesnt know what you mean. Try reading their cues to see which is which. If they do know, stop talking youve already made your point. If they dont, try to explain what you mean more clearly.TryThis is like almost. In the immortal words of Yoda Do or do not. There is no try. There are ways to convey failed, yet valiant attempts without using the word and implying that youve given up. Try itWishIf wishes were horses Well, you get the picture. Every time youre tempted to say wish, change it to will. Youll get a whole lot more done if youre constantly challenging yourself to put your money where your mouth is. Same goes for mightLiterallyThis word has been ruined by overuse. Unless youre very specifically conveying that you are not exaggerating, strike literally from your vocabulary. Most people use it nowadays when they are, in fact, exaggeratingin an ironic way. If you dont know exactly what youre trying to convey when using this word, chances are youre using it wrong. Better not to use it at all.