Stop using "BUT" in the workplace

Communication is something that is essential in a successful workplace. As a professional, you need to make sure you are getting the most out of the words you chose to use to your employees, coworkers or clients. To do this, one word that should be immediately deleted from your vocabulary is "BUT".

WHY?

For example, let's say an assistant has been working on a project for two weeks, and goes to present his work to his supervisor. The supervisor looks it over and says "You worked so hard on this project and it really shows, but I would use a smaller font and bolder titles next time."

What is the assistant taking away from this conversation?

He is going to remember the statement after the BUT:

Behold

Underlying

Truth

By using the word BUT the supervisor in this situation cancelled out his first comment on the project. The assistant only hears the "underlying truth", in most cases. He is thinking that he should have used smaller font and bolder titles instead of his supervisor giving him credit for how hard he worked on this project.

How can we give positive feedback in this type of situation, instead of using the word BUT?

A great way to communicate positive feedback without cancelling out the good work an employee does is simple. We will use the example above. Instead of saying "BUT" the supervisor could have used the phrase "Like best.......next time."

The supervisor would tell the assistant:

"What I liked best about the project is how your hard works really shows, and next time I would use smaller fonts and bolder times.

This is getting across the feedback in a positive way! The assistant can hear what he did wrong, not have it cancelled out buy his supervisor saying "BUT" and also being able to improve for next time.