No matter how much technology improves over the years, your mindset will always be your most powerful business tool. Successful business owners are people that do not give up easily. They rely on their mindset to push through the tough times and overcome hurdles.
Yes, you can have all the world’s resources – the best tools and technology – but you could still fail if you have the wrong mindset. The ultimate goal is to help you get more out of your resources and team by helping you cultivate a culture of excellence.
Communication in Today’s Digital-First World
The advancement of technology has made it easier than ever to communicate with other people. However, it can be a double-edged sword, as it also makes it easier to create misunderstandings that can negatively impact your business or personal life.
The tone gets lost in an email or text message. It’s inappropriate to put several emojis in a formal business email. Semantics can come into play as words and phrases may mean different things in different parts of the world. Therefore, as a business leader, you should be mindful of the words and phrases you use in your business.
The words and phrases you use in your brand messaging should paint a picture of who you and your business are, plus what you and your business stand for. Therefore, make sure to avoid using phrases that could potentially kill your business due to developing the wrong type of culture.
5 Phrases That Will Kill Your Business
1. “This is the way we have always done it.”
One of the deadliest mistakes that business owners make is the inability to adapt to change. It isn’t broken, why fix it?
The sales and marketing landscapes are always evolving. There are always new tools and technology being developed to further bring better customer experience. Adapting to these changes will help you keep up with the trends. Plus, this enables your business to keep up with the trends and with your competition.
Take note; your competition is continuously looking for ways to beat you. Don’t establish a culture of complacency. As the leader of your business, you should set an example for your team. By walking the talk, you motivate your team to become even better. Always challenge yourself and your whole team to find better ways to approach challenges and opportunities.
2. “That’s not my job.”
Due to the ever-evolving technology and customer demands, the lines between different company departments become less clear through time. I personally experienced competition between departments – who does a better job between the two teams?
With this, everyone in your business or organization should realize that they are on the same team. Success is everyone’s job – so everyone in your company must work together. Working together makes your business stronger. Team effort will ultimately help you achieve success.
Imagine if your sales team works hand-in-hand with your marketing department. Your sales team will do better with better marketing, and your marketing team will do better if your sales team is closing more deals. Getting all of your departments working toward the same goal makes the experience better, not just for your organization but also for your customers.
3. “I don’t care about that.”
This sentence and line of thinking is a red flag every single time you hear it. When you say this particular phrase, you display a lack of understanding or open-mindedness. This phrase is often heard when it comes to new marketing strategies or standard tools and services.
As a business leader, you should keep yourself open to new ways of doing things – especially if you’re looking to grow your business. Again, the marketplace is always changing, and there are still new ways to do things. Have you and your team ready to take advantage of new ideas and opportunities. It will bring you closer to success.
4. “Can I be honest with you?”
This phrase is ironic. Using it in a conversation when you speak to your team members and clients could potentially lead the other to question your integrity.
Honesty is a value everyone expects in every business interaction you have. Honest people don’t have to tell others that they are being honest!
5. “I’ve been busy.”
Telling someone you have been busy could make them feel like they’re not important. It basically sounds like an excuse or makes you look like you have a victim mindset.
Whenever you are late in responding to emails or maybe in meetings, it’s best to stay positive at the moment and use phrases like “I’m glad to be here now.” or “Thank you for waiting.”
Success Begins With a Growth Mindset
All successful businesses were built on effort, and the business owners’ having a growth mindset. Providing a foundation for success starts with using phrases that encourage the growth of a positive culture. It’s best to be mindful of how you communicate with your team, prospects, and clients.
Let me know in the comments below what common phrases stand out to you as ones to avoid. Also, don’t hesitate to ask any questions about anything that I missed. I also encourage you to check out my 14-Step Crushing B2B Digital Strategy System to learn more about selling on LinkedIn. It’s a FREE system for anyone to use! Contact us anytime to learn more about how we can help you.
About the Author
Craig Wasilchak is the founder and CEO of Crushing B2B Digital Strategies. He is also an active member of the Entrepreneur Organization, as he is the owner of a business earning over $1M in sales annually.
Crushing B2B Digital Strategies is a Dallas-Fort Worth area-based company that teaches CEOs, C-Level Execs, & Entrepreneurs how to grow their business value by using success systems for LinkedIn, other social media platforms, and SEO. Crushing B2B offers a variety of Social Selling & LinkedIn training, Branding & Lead Generation systems that are proven to convert digital sales conversations into profits.
As a B2B Mentor that has extensive skills in Leadership, Mentoring, and Entrepreneurial skills, Craig loves to share his amazing business journey and help others achieve their maximum success.
Craig has built and sold multi-million dollar businesses over the last 25 years. Now, with Crushing B2B Digital Strategies, his goal is to teach other entrepreneurs how to grow and run profitable businesses in a disrupted business world utilizing practical business strategies. If you wish to connect with Craig here on LinkedIn, just send an invite! You are also more than welcome to subscribe to his YouTube Channel “The B2B Lead Generation Movement”.