Phrases To Set Boundaries While Remaining Professional

Boundaries & Self-Advocacy

✘ “I can’t right now.”

✔ “I can start on this [day/time] — will that work?”

✘ “I’m too busy.”

✔ “I can take this on, but it will push back X — which should be the priority?”

✘ “That’s not my job.”

✔ “Here’s who can help you with that.”

✘ “I’ll try to get to it.”

✔ “I’ll have it to you by [specific date].”

✘ “I guess I can stay late.”

✔ “I can work on this tomorrow morning to ensure quality.”

✘ “I’ll make it work.”

✔ “I can do this, but I’ll need to adjust X.”

✘ “I’ll figure it out.”

✔ “Let’s clarify expectations and priorities before I start.”

✘ “I don’t think I can.”

✔ “Here’s what I’d need in order to make this happen.”

✘ “I’m not sure I deserve…”

✔ “Based on my contributions [list examples], I’d like to discuss…”

✘ “It’s fine.”

✔ “This doesn’t work for me — let’s find another solution.”

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Meetings & Speaking Up

✘ “This might be a silly question, but…”

✔ “For clarity, could you walk me through…”

✘ “I’m not the expert, but…”

✔ “From my perspective…”

✘ “I think…”

✔ “I recommend…” or “I believe…”

✘ “Can I add something?”

✔ “To build on what [name] said…”

✘ “I’m probably wrong, but…”

✔ “Here’s another angle to consider…”

✘ “Does anyone else think…?”

✔ “I’d like to propose…”

✘ “This might be off-topic, but…”

✔ “This connects to what we’re discussing because…”

✘ “I don’t know if this is relevant, but…”

✔ “Here’s something that might help us decide…”

✘ “Sorry, can I interrupt?”

✔ “I’d like to jump in here with a point on…”

✘ “I’m not sure if we have time for this…”

✔ “If time allows, I’d like to cover…”

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Feedback & Influence

✘ “You’re wrong.”

✔ “I see it differently — here’s why…”

✘ “That’s not how we do it.”

✔ “Here’s the process we’ve found works best…”

✘ “This doesn’t make sense.”

✔ “Could you walk me through your thinking here?”

✘ “That will never work.”

✔ “What challenges do you see with this approach?”

✘ “That’s wrong.”

✔ “Let’s revisit this part to make sure we’re aligned.”

✘ “That’s not realistic.”

✔ “Given the resources we have, here’s what we could do…”

✘ “This is a bad idea.”

✔ “Here’s how we could refine this…”

✘ “You should…”

✔ “One option could be…”

✘ “That’s not possible.”

✔ “Here’s what we’d need to make that possible.”