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  • CANADIAN ENGLISH
    • How to Improve Listening Skills
      • Canadian Pronunciation
      • Exercise to Improve your Listening
      • Conversation Management Strategies
      • How to Listen and Understand
    • How to Speak in Canada
      • How to Improve your Speaking
      • What Canadians Talk about
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      • Are you Polite enough?
      • How to Improve Pronunciation
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      • How to Improve your Reading
      • How to Read Faster
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      • How to Write Emails
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      • Canadian Communication Style
      • How to Proofread English
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      • Most Important Grammar in Canada
      • Phrasal Verbs and Idioms in Canada
      • Pronunciation of Grammar
      • How to Learn Fast like Children
    • Teach English to a Family Member
  • FIND A JOB & KEEP YOUR JOB
    • How to Find a Job
      • Do you have Canadian Experience?
      • Co-op, Internship or Volunteering?
      • Canadian Work Values
      • Job Interview in Canada
      • Important Work Skills in Canada
      • Networking Rules for Immigrants
    • How to Keep your Job
      • Talking to your Manager and Co-workers
      • Speaking to Customers and Clients
      • How to Get a Promotion
      • Showing Respect at Work
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Powerful Work Phrasesadmin2019-04-03T23:55:59+00:00

POWERFUL WORK PHRASES

New immigrants to Canada need to learn to use those phrases that will help them get better results and build good relationship with their manager and co-workers. The secret to communicating effectively is to stay positive and proactive and avoid negativity. Below are the phrases that can help you pave the way to success, phrases to avoid (table below) and 17 more simple but effective phrases to add to your communication. 

Phrases to Use with your Manager

Achieve achieve better results
Alternative find alternative solutions
Appreciate I appreciate your help
Aware I’m aware of the current situation
Better a better use of our resources
Big see the big picture
Can You can count on me
Committed committed to providing excellent service
Consider Have you considered…?
Contribute contribute your expertise
Create create innovative solutions
Efficient the most efficient service
Experience gain experience
Flexible a more flexible approach
Focus focus on improving
Goals set goals
Good that’s a good point
Helpful This is helpful
Ideas come up with creative ideas
Improve improved productivity
Increase increase market share
Innovative innovative solutions
Insight gain valuable insight
Negotiate negotiate a lower price
Objective a more objective perspective / evaluation
Performance improve performance
Planning planning our next step
Positive positive attitude / outcome
Possibility consider the possibility of
Potential potential problems
Prepared be prepared to give an answer
Priorities set priorities
Productive productive use of our time
Propose to propose a plan /an idea
Reasonable reasonable expectations
Resolve resolve issues
Resources make the best use of available resources
Retain retain customers/clients
Risk minimize risk
Service the most efficient service
Solve solve problems
Strategy develop a strategy
Suggest to suggest a solution
Support provide support to
Thank you thank you for the opportunity
Think I think you’ll find…
Value bring value to
Valuable a valuable contribution
Willing I am willing to
Win this is a win-win situation
Workable find a workable solution

PHRASES TO AVOID USING WITH YOUR MANAGER

Bad bad decision
Beyond beyond me, beyond repair
Break Give me a break
Bored I’m bored
Can’t This can’t be done / I can’t do anything about this
Demand I demand
Disaster This is a disaster
Doubt I doubt it will work
Failed We failed / I failed
Fault It’s not my fault
Fed up I’m fed up with…
Forgot I forgot to…
Hopeless The situation is hopeless
Impossible It’s impossible
Incapable They are incapable of…
Insist I insist
Late It’s too late
Mess What a mess!
Mistake big mistake
Out it’s out of question
Overworked I am overworked
Problem Not my problem
Quit I will have to quit
Refuse I refuse to do it
Ridiculous This is ridiculous
Screw up I/they screwed up
Stuck We are stuck, I feel stuck
Stupid He/she is stupid, this is stupid
Trouble big trouble
Underpaid I am underpaid
Unfair This is unfair
Unreasonable unreasonable demands
Waste It’s a waste of time
Won’t This won’t work

17 SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL WORKPLACE PHRASES THAT BRING RESULTS

17 powerful workplace phrases

1. “I appreciate it.”

This phrase means “Thank you” but it is stronger and the two could be combined (‘Thank you, I appreciate it’). It is very polite and can be used both in writing and in speaking.

“I really appreciate your help.”

“I would really appreciate if you could help me.”

2. Saying ‘Hi’ to strangers

“Hi, how are you?” means “I’m friendly” in Canada. When you walk into a room, make eye contact and greet people, even if you don’t know anybody. It lets people know you are friendly and open for future conversations.

3. “It’s freezing out there.”

Learn the weather vocabulary in Canada.  It is customary for people to use the weather topic as an ice breaker – a way to start a friendly conversation. A mistake many immigrants make though is to complain about the weather. While it is okay to complain about the cold/heat/snow with close co-workers and other people you know well, it is imperative that you stay positive when meeting new people. So, on the same day, you might say:

At a job interview: “Yes, it’s a bit cold but I don’t mind. Important is to know how to dress, right?”

Taking to a co-worker: “It’s freezing today. I was chilled to the bone walking here.”

Weather Vocabulary you need to know in Canada: freezing, humid, chilly, flurries, mild, shower(s), wind chill, breeze, icy, muggy, bundle up

4. “I’d love to but…”

When somebody asks you (for help, to do a task, etc.) and you are too busy, have no time or simply too tired, never say “No, I cannot do it.” Instead, use this formula:

“I would love to do it but unfortunately I have to leave at 5 sharp – I have a doctor’s appointment after work.”

This lets people know you are nice, friendly, positive and helpful but you simply have other commitments.

5. “You’re right.”

“You’re absolutely right.” This simple phrase will win you a lot of friends. It expresses both support and approval and there’s nothing people want more than to feel that somebody sympathies with them. With this phrase you can make people feel validated which goes a long way when it comes to building relationships. You can also use the phrase “It makes sense” to achieve similar results.

6. “What do you think?”

“What do you think would be a good solution to this?”

Show people that you value and respect their opinion and you will be able to build positive workplace relationships with them.

7. “Definitely, Absolutely, Exactly”

Also: completely, certainly, surprisingly, essentially, probably. Positive words that end in -ly have a particular power behind them – they will make people believe what you are saying.

8. “Because”

One of the most powerful words in the English language when it comes to persuading people and getting them to agree. When people hear the word ‘because’, even if your reason is not the most valid one, you have a greater chance to successfully influence your listener.

9. “Perfect.”

This word is powerful without being over the top. Use it once or twice in a conversation and people will perceive it as a compliment.

10. “I would feel the same way if I were in your situation.”

This phrase is the best way to show empathy and it is incredibly powerful when you want to show a person you understand how they feel. helps people calm down if they are upset or angry and it makes them believe you are on their side.

11 “Could you please…?”  “Would you like to…?”   “Would you mind…?”

Do not tell people what to do – people don’t like being ordered around. When you phrase your requests as questions, they would be much more inclined to help you and do what you asked. Also, keep in mind that this is a more ‘Canadian way’ of speaking.

12 Use a person’s name when talking to them.

If you know a person’s name, avoid using “Madam”, “Ma’am” or “Sir”. It is much more respectful to use someone’s first name in Canada than any form of address. Most people love their names and for them it’s the sweetest sound in the world. Make a point of memorizing the names of people you meet at work, both co-workers and clients.

13. “It happens.”

“Happens to me too.” “I often make the same mistake myself.” These phrases help reduce people’s anxiety and fear of appearing stupid.

14. “I see.” “I know.”

Simple as they are, these phrases are very powerful because of how reassuring they are to the listener.

15. “I admire your…”

“I admire your patience (or any other skill).”  At work, compliment people on their skills, not on their appearance and you will be perceived as highly professional individual whose company people seek.

16. “If I were you, I would…” ,  “What I would do in this situation is…”

Being able to give advice in a way that people don’t feel pressured or ordered around is an important leadership skill. If you want to influence people, using these phrases will earn you a reputation of being a tactful, skillful leader.

17. “You made my day!”

“You just made my day.” It is an idiom that means ‘you just made me very happy’.  It’s a powerful way to compliment somebody and to show your appreciation.

______________

Read next:

Canadian Communication Style

Speaking Politely in Canada

What Canadians Talk about

How to Find a Job in Canada

How to Keep your Job 

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  • How to Find a Job
    • Canadian Experience
    • Co-op, Internship or Volunteering?
    • Canadian Work Values
    • Job Interview in Canada
    • Important Work Skills in Canada
    • Networking Rules for Immigrants
  • How to Keep your Job
    • Talking to your Manager and Co-workers
    • Speaking to Customers and Clients
    • How to Get a Promotion
    • Showing Respect at Work
    • Giving Gifts at Work
    • Role of a Manager in Canada
  • Powerful Work Phrases
  • Start your Own Business
  • How to Choose a Career
  • Canadian Workplace Behaviour
  • Financial Literacy
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