Two Words To Rethink in 2024

Many – including many accomplished subject matter experts – say “I think” when they really know. I see this day in and day out in my work, and believe there are essentially three reasons for the weak prelude:

1 – People don’t want to come off as arrogant. I think we’re in for tough economic times is softer than the more impactful We’re in for tough economic times.

2 – Folks want wiggle room. Starting with “I think” translates to expressing an opinion. Implicit is an acknowledgment that we may be working with feelings instead of facts. If it turns out the speaker was wrong, it’s OK, because it was just a well-intended opinion.

3 – For many, “I think” becomes a habit, a vocal tic that the speaker doesn’t even realize he or she is using. I think they said rain tomorrow. I think gas is going up again. I think we're starting to rely too much on AI.

Please stop this weak speak. It’s hurting, not helping. It’s making you sound uncertain and undercutting your authority.

But also know you’re not alone. I’ve long lost count of the times I've seen seasoned professionals surprised by their many I thinks during video replays of mock Q&A sessions.

One caveat: If you’re saying “I think” intentionally – if you’ve given it some thought and really are uncertain and this is just about having a pleasant conversation – no problem. The issue is overuse and the possible blind spot that’s costing you credibility.

How do you stop? Start by becoming more self-aware. Note that’s self-aware, not self-conscious. The last thing we want is to stop expressing thoughts and opinions out of fear that an I think might show up.

You can also record yourself answering several questions delivered by a friend, family member of colleague. No one likes doing this, but seeing it helps you hear it. Once you hear it, you can start working on it.

Last, set a realistic goal. If you drop an I think six out of eight times before expressing a thought, shoot for four of eight. Keep working until you eliminate it altogether. Know that if this has become an ingrained habit, it will take a few months of hard work to break it.

But it can be done. And it’s worth resolving to give it a shot in 2024, don’t you think?

Steve Piacente is Director of Training at The Communication Center in Washington, D.C. He is also the owner of Next Phase Life Coaching and the author of, “Your New Fighting Stance: Good Enough Isn’t, and You Know It.” His photography website is piacentephotos.com