Friday, November 28, 2025

The Dirty Dozen Words That Destroy Your Message

12 Words and Phrases That Sabotage Your Communication Communication Tips from George Torok Episode 283 In this episode we explore: • why vague words prevent listeners from seeing what you mean • how double negatives create confusion and weaken your intent • where emotional trigger words derail your message • how insulting phrases show unintended arrogance • why self-diminishing language lowers your authority • how dishonest openers destroy trust • why clichés signal lazy thinking • when jargon works and when it alienates people • how slang phrases degrade the message • why absolutes distort meaning • how weak adverbs dilute clarity • how filler words clutter your message and add noise ----- George Torok is known as The Speech Coach for Executives. He helps business leaders speak with more confidence, clarity and consiness. Learn more about communication coaching with George at https://speechcoachforexecutives.com/ Arrange for weekly presentations tips at https://toroktips.com/ ----- Key Learning Points from George • eliminate vague words like “stuff” and “things” because they communicate nothing • avoid double negatives which confuse listeners and weaken your intent • beware emotional trigger words that create unintended reactions • drop insulting phrases that imply superiority over your audience • stop using self-diminishing phrases that reduce your credibility • remove dishonest or insincere qualifiers that signal lack of authenticity • avoid clichés that show lazy thinking and add no value • use technical jargon only with those who understand it • remove slang terms that degrade your message and your audience • limit absolutes, which are usually inaccurate exaggerations • avoid weak adverbs like “very,” “really,” and “pretty” • eliminate filler words that clutter your message and reduce clarity ----- ----more---- Your Intended Message is the podcast about how you can boost your career and business success by honing your communication skills. We’ll examine the aspects of how we communicate one-to-one, one to few and one to many – plus that important conversation, one to self. In these interviews we will explore presentation skills, public speaking, conversation, persuasion, negotiation, sales conversations, marketing, team meetings, social media, branding, self talk and more.   Your host is George Torok George is a specialist in communication skills. Especially presentation. He’s fascinated by the links between communication and influencing behaviors. He delivers training and coaching programs to help leaders and promising professionals deliver the intended message for greater success.   Connect with George www.SpeechCoachforExecutives.com (http://www.speechcoachforexecutives.com/) https://superiorpresentations.net/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgetorokpresentations/ https://www.youtube.com/user/presentationskills (https://www.youtube.com/user/presentationskills1)