An essential part of communicating well with your co-workers and customers is excellent word choice. Using the appropriate professional phrases for work helps send your message across and minimize confusion. As well as avoiding the hassles that miscommunication brings, such as accidentally offending your co-workers or customers.
To help you practice how to say things professionally, here are 5 examples of power phrases you should use at work. Aside from using these when communicating with co-workers, you can also use these power phrases for customer service. In addition, practicing using these professional phrases for work regularly will help you develop good communication skills.
I Want to Help.
When offering your help to your co-workers, you should be straightforward about it. Doing this shows you’re concerned about them and want to be of assistance as soon as possible. Besides, if you tell someone feeling distressed to remain calm, they’ll do everything except what you said.
When using this power phrase, don’t forget to acknowledge your co-worker or customer’s feelings first. After all, the point of saying “I want to help” is to not sound like you’re interfering in their business, right? Tell them you understand their situation and that you’re there to provide whatever help they may need.
Glad to Be of Help.
Once you have finished assisting your co-worker or customer, they may thank you for your help. If you want to sound even more professional in your reply, a simple “you’re welcome” may not cut it. Instead, why not say “I’m glad to be of assistance” or simply, “glad to be of help?”
Aside from sounding sharper, it also leaves a positive impression on the person you’re talking to. It shows you’re willing to assist someone with a task without being required to. Thinking about it, who would want to work with someone who only helps you to advance their agendas?
Let’s Work on This Together.
Another of the professional phrases for work you should use when interacting with your co-workers or customers is “let’s work on this together.” Other terms similar to this include solve, accomplish, respond to, etc.
Saying this means you’re inviting the people you’re speaking with to action and solve the problem you’re facing. It also combines two of the most sought-after skills of an employee: problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
Contrast this with saying vague words like address, meet, or allowed. These words are more passive than the previous examples of power phrases I mentioned above. They don’t spark action as much as the previous ones as well.
Here’s What I Can Do for You.
Don’t want to sound like a jerk and be more professional to your co-workers or customers when rejecting their requests? Try saying: “here’s what I can do for you” next time. Saying this indicates that although you can’t fulfill their request, you’re willing to offer or look for alternatives to solving the problem.
Similar to saying: “let’s work on this together.”, this power phrase is more positive and action-inducing than simply saying no or you can’t do it. Saying this also helps establish your boundaries on what you can and can’t do to your co-workers or customers.
Can You…?
Whenever you request something from your co-workers, one thing you should avoid is wording it like you’re already a burden to them. Aside from having a negative tone, your co-workers may also think you’re guilt-tripping them. So avoid using phrases like: “I hate to bother you but…” or “I know you’re busy…” when saying your requests.
Instead, go straight to the point by saying: “can you…?” Saying this allows the person you’re talking to immediately know what you need and give a response to you. Besides, your co-workers will tell you if your request is unreasonable anyways. So why should you be too presumptuous?
Conclusion.
And we are done! Here are the 5 professional phrases for work that you should always use. With these, you’ll be more confident and clear when talking to or messaging your co-workers or customers in your online job.
