Legal Research

"Weak Language vs Overconfidence"

This post was written by Steven Matthews: "There's an interesting article in the latest issue of Forbes Magazine on the Worst Words to Say at Work. For quick reference, those words are: "try", "whatever", "maybe" and "I don't know", "I'll get back to you", "If", "yes, but...", "I guess", and "we'll see...".

It's an interesting list.  But I have to say, there's a time and place for everything - including weak language.  Far too often, and especially in the legal profession, command and control personalities leave a wake of unproductive business operations behind them. Workplaces that are so scared to cause waves, the ability of employees to co-operate and produce a team product is undermined.

I understand most of a list like this, and how some of these phrases could cause confidence problems with coworkers; but there are two phrases included here, at least in my books, that are essential to a healthy work environment: 'try' and 'I don't know'..."

Continue reading this interesting post and reach the active link by clicking on the author's name.

Source: Slaw.ca, 6 May 2010. Reproduced with permission of Simon Fodden, founder of Slaw.

Full post as published by Stark County Law Library Blawg on May 07, 2010 (boomark / email).