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15 Things You Never Want To Say At Work

February 19, 2008  |  from Construction Jobs Blog

I was reading a newsletter from CareerBuilder today, and it had a piece in it that inspired me:  the “10 Worst Things to Say at Work.”  I thought it was a good piece, and definitely food for thought, but I thought they left some things out.  So I’ve augmented their list to give you 15 Things You Never Want To Say At Work.

1. “That’s not my job.”
If somebody comes to you with an issue, there’s probably a reason. It might be your responsibility to deal with it or your input is valued. Either way, use the situation to prove you’re a team player and a problem solver. Plus, it pays to earn some good office karma because you never know when you’ll need help from other colleagues.

2. “Yeah, no problem.” (If you don’t mean it.)
If you take on a task with a smile but have no intention of actually completing it, you’re going to earn a reputation as an unreliable person. If you know you can’t or won’t complete the project, be honest about it. Your colleagues are relying on you, so your decision not to follow through impacts their jobs, too.

3. “Don’t tell anyone I said this, but … “
If it’s really a secret, keep it to yourself. Whether you know someone’s about to get fired or what the boss’ salary is, you’re going to get credit for spreading the news. You’re not exempt from being the subject of office chatter, either. Don’t expect your gossip-loving co-worker to suddenly have tight lips when it comes to divulging your secrets.

4. “Lets go grab some beers.” (At lunchtime.)
Most people don’t mind if you enjoy a beer or two on your lunch break.  Who knows, the boss is probably doing the same thing.  But the last thing you want is for your coworkers to think, and to report, that you left in the middle of the day to start drinking. 

5. “I haven’t had a raise in four years.”
“Most savvy supervisors don’t think longevity merits a raise – only high productivity does,” Lampton states. Asking for a raise because of how long it’s been since your last one will tell your boss only that you want more money, not that you deserve it. Instead, highlight the accomplishments you’ve made in the last four years, Lampton suggests. Prove the raise is merited.

6. “I’m leaving work early.” “Why?” “To get a prostate exam.”
Everyone will eventually need to leave work early or take a day off for medical reasons.  But does your entire workplace need to know what those medical reasons are?  No.  Use discretion and remember that most times, when it involves personal health, less information is better than more.

7. “It’s not my fault.”
When your boss comes to you with a problem, the last thing you want to do is to deflect blame to someone else. Maybe it isn’t your fault, but remember that you’re not in a courtroom and nobody’s looking for the culprit right now. All that matters is making sure the problem is solved and doesn’t happen again. You can deal with the real issue later, but you’ll just make yourself look worse if you spend more time finger-pointing than problem solving.

8. ”I see your point, you just suck.”
We have all had disputes and arguments at work.  How you handle yourself during these conflicts can have a huge impact on your reputation among both your co-workers and your supervisors.  Avoid attacking the other person and their point of view, and focus instead of remaining calm and reaching a compromise.  People who fight a lot are viewed as detrimental to the team and company as a whole, while those who diffuse arguments are invaluable team-builders and examples for others.  Be a team-builder. 

9. “To be honest with you … ”
First, any time this phrase is used, you know something negative is going to follow. More important is the message it sends to others. “Does this colleague have to identify when he or she is being honest with you? When that phrase is not used, should you then doubt the integrity of the statement?” Lampton asks. Instead, without being rude, say what you need to say in a straightforward manner.

10. “Whom did you vote for?”
The old adage that you shouldn’t discuss politics is as true today as ever before. While it’s great that you’re an active citizen performing your civic duty, save the political talk for your personal blog. Even if the conversation doesn’t result in an argument, you never know whom you’re making uncomfortable or who will hold your views against you. In a sea of cubicles, there are more people listening to your conversation than you think.

11. ”Are you Religious?”
Religion is just as, if not more, volatile than politics.  Pressuring co-workers to speak with you about their beliefs and traditions can be taken as rude and imposing, and can definitely turn awkward very quickly.  In general, religion, like politics, is a topic of conversation best left out of the workplace.

12. “I got so trashed last night … “
You’re probably not the only person in the office to indulge in a drink (or a keg) now and then, but you’re probably the only one bragging about it to your boss. Although your night of binge drinking didn’t force you to call in sick this morning, it can create the image of an unreliable partier who forgot to leave the beer bong in the dorm room.

13. “I just didn’t have enough time for that.”
In case you didn’t realize, everybody’s pretty busy these days. When your boss asks you to do something, chances are it’s not really an option. If your main concern is accomplishing the task on time, Lampton suggests you explain the situation. Mention how busy your schedule is but that you can accommodate the request if some other projects are rearranged. You’ll show that you take each assignment seriously and only want to turn in your best work.

14. “. . . or else.”
Giving anyone in the office an ultimatum rarely ends in success. Whether you say it to a colleague or your new intern, you’ll only gain enemies and earn a reputation for being difficult. If cordial requests don’t work and threats are the only way to get things done in the office, you need to re-evaluate your work environment.

15. ”I’ll bet Suzy is a great hook-up.”
Pretty much everyone who has had more than one job has worked with someone they found attractive.  It’s not a question of if you will find a co-worker attractive, it’s a question of when.  Sexual harassment is a huge issue at the workplace these days; remember to keep your language and actions professional and appropriate.  So what if you think Suzy would be a great hook-up…your co-workers don’t need to know that.  Comments like this only put you and your career at risk.

Original 10 Worst Things to Say at Work list by Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer. 

Filed: Career