Words People Don’t Want to Hear
“No” “Stop” “You Can’t”
There are several others of course, but too many times we hear these words and the person saying them is insensitive to their impact.
I went into a fancy coffee shop in an exclusive department store a while back to meet with a client. Upon our arrival I saw that half of the tables were full and the other half empty. As we approached one of the empty tables an employee barked out, “You cannot sit there.” I stood there a bit stunned and as I was calculating my response she said, “We had a leak in the ceiling and needed to close that section.” What’s wrong with this scenario?
Reason First
The fact that we couldn’t use those tables was reasonable; her approach was not. It was only after my initial reaction (negative) to her first words that I knew why we couldn’t sit there. It would have been better if she originally had said, (in a polite tone) “I’m sorry, but we have a water leak from above and had to close off this section.” Not only would I have understood, but I wouldn’t want to sit there. Your first words set the stage; think first, speak later.
August 7th, 2012 at 8:08 am
I also don’t like hearing “No problem,” when I thank someone for doing something for me. “Thank you for wrapping the book so nicely.” “No problem.” It’s so much more gracious to say, “My pleasure” or “You’re welcome.” “No” is a negative word and so is “problem.”
August 8th, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Pam, i could not agree more, truer words were never spoken! when people say “no problem”. my reaction is “geez, i hope its not a problem!!” what a horrible thing to say, people are not sensitive to that at all, its epidemic in younger people for some reason. that needs to be turned around yeah? It is not only how you say it, its also WHAT YOU SAY.