You may not realize it, but using negative words in your communications can have a strong impact – and not the one you’re hoping to create. Our brains do not process negatives easily. We first consider the main words and then negate them, which takes additional thought.
After a summer filled with cool days and lots of rain, a weather forecast that says “we’re not expecting any rain today” makes you think of rain and not clear sunny skies – the opposite of the forecaster’s intention.
Watch the words you use when writing to – and speaking with – your clients and prospects.
- Don’t say “no problem” when you mean “thank you” or you’re answering a request. Instead say “my pleasure.”
- Instead of writing “Please do not hesitate to contact me” write “Please contact me any time.”
- Instead of saying “it won’t be difficult to…” say “it will be easy to….”
- Never say “I don’t know,” it drives people up the wall. Instead say, “That’s a good question. Let me find out for you.”
- Eliminate the word “try” from your vocabulary. You know if you’re going to “try” to do something, it just won’t happen. Instead, say “I will.”
Create a positive impact with your readers…and they “won’t” anticipate any “problems.”
