As a Gen-Y'er, I feel I constantly have to combat ageism in the workplace. It is difficult to prove you deserve your job, your opinions are valid, you are capable to handle a task, and what you have to offer is valuable. And while we may not have frown lines and grey hairs, there is a simple thing Gen Y'ers can do to demonstrate they are competent. Allison Tibbs from the examiner.com shares four secret words/phrases we should eliminate from our conversations:
1. “Like” – Being a product of the “Clueless” generation, I am amazed at how many times Gen Y’ers use the word “like” in one sentence. Not only do you sound like a complete “Valley Girl” but it is quite distracting to the listener of your conversation. Try to use more substantial filler words or take subtle pauses, to help gather your thoughts.
2. “You guys” – One of my colleagues in New York, did a presentation to newly hired employees, who were recent college graduates, regarding the phrase “you guys”. She said that it was very unprofessional and could be deemed disrespectful to an older audience if you continue to refer to them as “you guys”. It also seems a bit informal.
3. “Awesome” – Lately, I’ve noticed when conducting mock interviews, when I asked a person how they enjoyed an experience, especially an internship or study abroad program, they all replied with “Awesome!” I was then waiting for them to blurt “cowabunga” or another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle phrase. Trust me, there are more professional ways to explain your contentment with an experience. If you are still stumped, try using a thesaurus to find some.
4. “You know” – This is another filler phrase, similar to “like”, that is very distracting and unprofessional. This is used more when people are explaining something. If you are looking for clarification from your audience that they understand what you are saying, you can take a pause and ask the group “do you have any questions?” It is just a bit more professional and you keep control of the conversation, you know?
As Tibbs says, start to pay attention to how many times you use any of these phrases. You’d be surprised how many times you use at least one of these phrases or words. By tweaking your vocabulary, you can create a personal brand and image that will allow you to move forward in the professional atmosphere as a competent Gen Y'er.
Source: Examiner.com
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