Whether you’re sending a routine work email or chatting with people at a networking event, you want to appear as professional as possible. Why? When you are smart and thoughtful in professional situations, you become an asset to those around you, making you more likely to land that new project, motivating your boss to consider your point of view, or making some important connections in the industry. . 

Fortunately, looking more professional isn’t that difficult – there are some easy tricks to refine your verbal and written communication skills . These things you can start doing from today to look much more professional and that your work environment improves enormously.

Learn to use the ‘I’

Using the word “I” too much can backfire. The only grammatical mistake that makes you sound like you’re just pretending to be smart is the misuse of ‘I’. Also, when you are naming several people in which you should include yourself, you should put yourself in the last place.

Avoid using adverbs

Avoid using adverbs, especially “very”, using stronger words that express more specifically what you want to say, especially if you can do it in fewer syllables. “Very” is a vague adverb that lowers the perceived intelligence of the writer. Professionals should use words that highlight the depth of their vocabulary.

For example: use ‘vulgar’ instead of ‘very rude’ and ‘destitute’ instead of ‘very poor’. That said, you should never use language that is unfamiliar just from the act of writing or saying a supposedly more impressive word.

Beware filler words

Filler words like “amazing” are generic terms that lack imagination . These words tend to come up a lot in presentations and small talks, and they almost always sound forced. Let’s say you know someone who says they work in Tokyo. Your instinct might be to respond with something vague like “That’s absolutely amazing!” But instead of “filling the air with expressions of artificial interest”, which are not sincere words, it is better to be enthusiastic.

You can refrain from saying filler words like “amazing” or “amazing,” since those words tend to be used when you’re nervous or don’t know what to say. Ideally, be descriptive about why something sparks your interest. Maybe you can ask the person why they moved to Tokyo or what they like best about the city instead of sharing ambiguous praise for their choice of life …

Use words decisively

Looking more professional often depends on using words that don’t leave things open for interpretation. Using dubious sounding terms conveys that you are indecisive and unsure of yourself. To appear smarter and more professional, she recommends using terms that convey decisiveness, such as “absolutely” and “definitely.” It is important that you feel away from pejorative words, such as “I believe” and ” I feel .” These words immediately detract from your message, which should be clear and direct. Your boss may not care what you think, but they do want to know a correct fact .

Think about the structure of your sentences

Sentence structure is another place where people unconsciously lessen their impact. For example, most people ask for things by stating that they need something to accomplish a task, which can be unpleasant. Instead of saying, ‘I need a 20% increase in my budget to be able to complete the project,’ you state that you will complete the project, the more detailed you can be about the resulting benefits, the better, and that you can achieve these things with an increase in 20% budget. Ideally, sell the idea before asking them to pay for it.

Don’t apologize for everything

Women in particular tend to apologize even when the occasion doesn’t call for it, much more often than men . As a general rule of thumb, to appear more professional, you should only apologize if you really made a mistake. Don’t use “I’m sorry” as a general way of speaking … Instead of saying, “I’m sorry you were sick,” it’s better to say, “I’m so glad you’re back.”