You Were Right

Written by on May 14, 2020 / Inside BS Podcast

Words get us in trouble all the time. There are some things we don’t say that we should. In fact, there are many phrases you almost never hear.

Here are five of those phrases and reasons why we should use them more often.

“You were right.”

This phrase is almost never spoken in business. Most business leaders have an overwhelming need to be right. When they aren’t, they never admit it. So it is not surprising that when people are right, nobody gives them credit.

This matters because if you want to grow a relationship with someone, you need to suspend the need to be right all the time. If a person makes a mistake in a statement or when working with you, and the mistake has no consequences, just let it go.

“I don’t know.”

People are afraid to say this because they fear they will look stupid. What usually happens is you make up an answer when you don’t really know. Then you not only look stupid, you look dishonest.

Say “I don’t know, but I will find out,” and you’ll look smart and resourceful.

“I’m sorry.”

This is one that you’ll never hear from a tough guy. Politicians, business leaders, and your parents will never, ever say “I’m sorry,” because they think it makes them look weak.

The truth is that failing to apologize is what makes you look weak.

Strong, confident people admit when they are wrong. People who value relationships admit when they are wrong. We are all human. We all make mistakes. Admit your mistake, apologize, and get past it.

“Thank You.”

I’m not sure when we stopped expressing gratitude. As kids, our parents taught us to be grateful for everything from someone passing the salt, to someone giving us a check for a holiday. But once we became an adult, we immediately stopped this behavior.

Always find a way to express gratitude to people who provide a product or service or to people who simply express kindness.

“I like you.”

Everyone in the world is under recognized. People are so caught up in their own lives, they never take time to tell others how they feel. Reach out to a friend today and let him know you like him. You’ll make his day and you’ll feel good about yourself in the process.

Your words can help you stand out from the crowd. Use these today and you’ll see what a difference they can make.