Leaders who say these words sound incompetent
Michelle Rushton (GAICD)
Director, People of Influence. Advisor to executives building their team and leaders.
?? Picture this: you're an impressive, competent leader giving a presentation. You know your stuff inside out. But instead of commanding confidence, your audience starts to doubt you—and it’s all because of the words you use.
That’s the power of hedging words.
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??? Want to see how hedging words can impact your leadership and how to avoid them? Watch this quick video: Stop Undermining Your Leadership
?? What Are Hedging Words?
Hedging words are phrases that weaken your message and undermine your credibility, such as:
Think of them like Pringles: once you start, it’s hard to stop. But just like too many chips, hedging words are unhealthy—especially if you want to be seen as a competent and confident leader.
?? A Real-Life Example
At a recent client conference, I watched a senior leader—who I knew to be incredibly impressive—deliver a presentation. The content was excellent, but his repeated use of “kind of” was distracting and undermining. In just 10 minutes, he used it over 30 times!
The result? His audience started questioning his authority, even though he clearly knew what he was talking about.
?? How to Eliminate Hedging Words
1? Identify Your Hedging Habit: Pay attention to how often you use words like kind of or maybe—ask for feedback or record yourself to pinpoint patterns.
2? Replace Hedging with Certainty: Instead of saying, I think we could possibly..., try We will.... Confidence in your language inspires confidence in your leadership.
3? Pause for Impact: When tempted to hedge, take a moment to pause. A well-placed silence can be more powerful than filler words.
?? Take Control of Your Message
Great leaders communicate with clarity, conviction, and confidence. By eliminating hedging words, you’ll not only improve your delivery but also strengthen your presence and authority.
?? What’s Your Hedging Word?
Do you catch yourself saying kind of, maybe, or sort of? Share your experience in the comments—let’s tackle hedging habits together!
??? #LeadershipDevelopment #PublicSpeakingTips #ConfidentLeadership #CommunicationSkills #ExecutivePresence #LeadershipMatters
Authentic Leadership Trainer and NLP Coach
3 周The one I hear most often is, "I might be wrong here, but...", rather than something like, "What if it was possible that we could..."