Five Words to, Like, Drop from Your Vocab

If you manage a team or run a business it's important that you dress, behave, and speak properly to maintain a professional image, especially if your job involves public speaking. While building your vocabulary helps, you don't need to know a vast number of words to learn how to communicate with other business professionals. However, you should eliminate a few words from your vocabulary completely.

1. "Literally." The word literally is becoming one of the most overused words in the English language. People often use this word to emphasize a point, but they tend to use it even when it's clear they are speaking figuratively. If you're going to use the word literally as part of your regular vocabulary, make sure you're using it correctly.

2. "But." If you're using the word but to rationalize your excuses, stop. You're trying to maintain a professional image, and professional people own up to their mistakes. Don't make excuses; if you make a mistake, your productivity is lacking, or you've procrastinated on an important project, take responsibility for your actions.

3. "Try." If you tell someone you'll try to get something done, you're saying it might not actually get done. Instead of saying, "I'll try," really consider what the person is asking you to do. If you have time to complete the task, tell the person when you will complete it. If you don't have time to do it, just say no.

4. "Should." You can also delete the word should from your vocabulary. When you tell others you should be able to do something, you're basically telling them that you don't want to do it, but you will. The fact is, you either can or can't do a particular task. You'll get a lot more respect from your peers if you learn how to be direct and tell the truth.

5. "Like." Completely purge the word like from your vocabulary. It's overused to the point that many people find it annoying. Because the word like has become so common, it can be difficult not to use it. The problem is this word isn't completely useless; it's used to fill dead air and to indicate something that someone said. If you slow down and concentrate on what you're saying, it can be eliminated. Try to concentrate on using different filler words; nearly and about are good options. You should also concentrate on using the word said instead of like.

Vocabulary is especially important in the work place, but it's harder to eliminate overused words if you're using them in your personal life. Instead of only adhering to these rules when you're working on a public speaking project or communicating with clients, try eliminating these words at home and learning a few new words to replace them. You'll be surprised at how quickly you can improve your vocabulary when you put a little bit of thought into it.

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