Fortune has shared an article I wrote for Entrepreneur on the worst passive aggressive phrases that can bring down a business. Ditching passive-aggressiveness from your language is an admirable goal whether you’re a business owner/manager or not. We’re all a little passive-aggressive (I’ve been told so myself) and it requires conscious effort to stop. By far, the biggest offender is the word “fine,” because everyone knows when someone says this it means they’re far from fine. Most energetic, type A, extroverts are often in businesses where these phrases can be particularly damaging.
“No worries” can also be troublesome, especially if it’s clear you are bothered by something. It can sound a bit like telling someone to eff off, depending on tone. Particularly loathsome is, “if you really want to,” which can sound like a compromise at first—but don’t be fooled. You’ll also want to avoid saying “thanks in advance,” even if you mean it, because it’s really telling someone you’re expecting them to do something even if you’re really asking for a favor.
Starting a sentence with “I was surprised/curious/confused” is a veiled critique that might be designed to “sandwich” in a complaint. We all see it coming. Of course, “I’m not mad” should only be used when you’re truly not angry. Too often, it’s used in relationships when one person just wants an argument to end but they’re still stewing.
Find out the other six offenders here:
