Winning Friends and Influencing People - 5 Things You Shouldn't Say at Work

Help for making friends in your office.

If you've held a job at any point in your life, you know how irritating it can be when you have a co-worker who is annoying. The things is, most annoying co-workers don't realize that they are annoying. Sometimes it's hard to get a clear picture of how others interpret our behavior. When you are looking for a job or trying to get ahead at work, there are some things you can do to improve the way your co-workers view you.

Here are 5 things you shouldn't say at work. If any of these look familiar to you, it might be time to change your approach:

It's not my job - At almost any job I have had, I have heard people say this one over and over. I am ashamed to admit it, but I think it has crossed my lips a time or two as well. Here's the thing - If your boss ask you to do it, it's your job. It's as simple as that. The next time you want to say this little jem, try asking your boss if this is something that should be your priority right now. This is non-threatening and will open up a conversation about your work responsibilities.

I know this sounds stupid, but... - I think this is one of those phrases that women struggle with more than men. I used to do this all the time until someone pointed it out. When you say this, you undermine your ideas and most of the time people don't even listen past the "this sounds stupid" part. I always assume that if the speaker thinks it's stupid, then I probably will too. Instead, say what you think and present your thoughts and ideas with confidence. Let the listener decide if it's stupid or not.

I don't have time for this - No matter if you are talking about a job responsibility, a meeting, a conversation or even a phone call, this just comes off as rude. Still, people do it every day. Instead of saying that you don't have time, explain that you are in the middle of something and ask if you can do it at another time or in a few minute, whichever the case may be.

You look tired - If your co-worker is looking stressed out, don't tell them that they look tired. This will make them feel defensive, wondering if they look bad and generally hurt their feelings or make their day more stressful. Trust me, it doesn't help you earn friends. Instead, ask them if everything is ok or if there is something we can do to help them out. If you think about it, most of the time when we say this phrase, the person doesn't actually look tired, we just use the phrase when we want to comment on the fact that they don't seem as enthusiastic as usual.

Wow, you've lost a ton of weight - This happens in offices everyday. When you run into a client, a friend, co-worker of whomever and want to comment on their recent weight loss, this isn't the best way to do it. To the listener, this comment implies that they used to be unattractive and fat. It isn't a compliment. Instead, try just saying "Wow, you look great." and leaving it at that. If they want to start a conversation about their weight loss, they will.

Are there other things that you hear in the office that are slightly offensive? I would love to hear them in the comments.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for ManufacturingWorkersBlog and Nexxt. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.