Leadership Language: 8 “Wiggle Words” Killing your Executive Presence

  • Leadership Language: 8 “Wiggle Words” Killing your Executive Presence

    Leadership Language: 8 “Wiggle Words” Killing your Executive Presence

    Are you undermining your executive presence by using lots of wiggle words?

    Imagine a leader saying something like this in a town meeting: “I just think we should perhaps try to pivot our strategy, and hopefully, it will work.”  Every part of the sentence is softened with wiggle words. This is one sure way to uncertainty and kill your executive presence.

    As a leader, credibility is currency. Every sentence you speak either deposits authority into your leadership bank or withdraws it. Yet, even the most seasoned C-suite executives unconsciously undermine their own power by using “wiggle words.” These are subconscious safety nets used to avoid conflict, deflect blame, or soften the blow of a tough message.

    While wiggle words might feel polite or collaborative in the moment, they actually signal hesitation, lack of conviction, and anxiety to your team, clients, and investors.

    Wiggle words are sure signs of “followers” not “leaders.” Of course as leaders, we may not be 100% sure of our direction, but there are ways to convey this uncertainty without the wiggle words. So, to command absolute confidence in your next boardroom meeting or town hall, remove or replace these eight confidence-killing words from your vocabulary immediately.

    1. “Just”

    • The Problem: It shrinks your authority. When you say, “I’m just checking in,” or “It’s just an idea,” you are instantly minimizing your value. You are asking permission to occupy space and apologizing for taking up time.
    • The Fix: Delete it entirely. Say: “I am following up on the report,” or “Here is an idea.”

    2. “Maybe” (or “Perhaps”)

    • The Problem: It introduces unnecessary doubt. Leadership requires decisive action. “Maybe we should launch next month” sounds like you are waiting for someone else to step up and make the final call.
    • The Fix: Take a clear stance. If you need more data, say: “I will finalize the launch date by Friday once the consumer data is in.” If you are sure, say: “We will launch next month.”

    3. “I Think” (or “I Feel” / “I Believe”)

    • The Problem: It frames your hard-earned expertise as a mere opinion. As an executive, you were hired for your judgment, strategy, and facts. Prefacing a statement with “I think this is the right vendor” invites everyone in the room to debate a point you should already be certain about.
    • The Fix: State your conclusions directly as facts. Say: “This vendor meets all of our core criteria and budget requirements.”

    4. “Hopefully”

    • The Problem: It abdicates professional responsibility. “Hopefully, we will hit our Q3 targets” sounds like you are relying on luck, market magic, or prayers rather than a strategic execution plan.
    • The Fix: Focus heavily on the process and team accountability. Say: “We are on track to hit our Q3 targets due to our new sales pipeline efficiency.”

    5. “Sort of” (or “Kind of”)

    • The Problem: It blurs reality and signals a lack of grip on the situation. Leaders must be precise. Saying a major tech deployment is “sort of on track” means it is either late or you do not actually know the true status. Neither option looks good.
    • The Fix: Be specific and transparent. Say: “The deployment is two days behind schedule, but we have a clear mitigation plan in place.”

    6. “Try”

    • The Problem: It provides a built-in excuse for failure before the work even begins. As Yoda famously muttered: “Do or do not, there is no try.” Telling your CEO that you will “try to get the budget approved” signals that you have already accepted defeat.
    • The Fix: Commit to the action, not just the effort. Say: “I will present the budget for approval tomorrow.”

    7. “Does that make sense?”

    • The Problem: While meant to check for understanding, this phrase often backfires. It accidentally implies two negative things: either you didn’t explain the concept clearly, or your audience isn’t smart enough to grasp it. It shifts the burden of clarity onto the listener.
    • The Fix: Keep the responsibility on yourself and invite collaboration. Say: “What are your thoughts on this strategy?” or “What questions do you have about this approach?”

    8. “Usually” (or “Generally” / “Typically”)

    • The Problem: These are classic corporate escape phrases. When you tell a client or stakeholder, “We usually deliver this in three weeks,” you are intentionally leaving the door wide open for underperformance or negotiations. It breeds distrust because it sounds evasive.
    • The Fix: Establish firm parameters or specify the exceptions upfront. Say: “Our standard delivery timeline is three weeks.”

    The Bottom Line – Establish your executive presence by dropping the Wiggle Words.

    Eliminating wiggle words will feel incredibly uncomfortable at first. Your sentences will be shorter. Your statements will feel blunter. You might feel like you are being too aggressive.

    But to your listeners—your board, your employees, and your clients—that brevity translates directly into certainty, clarity, and executive presence. Stop cushioning your words. Speak with the authority that your track record and position demand. 🙂

     

    Media, presentation and public speaking trainerKimberly VanLandingham is the founder, trainer, and strategist for European Market Link Sarl, including Presentation Training Switzerland. She specialises in helping international business executives, technical leaders and their teams with public speaking, media training, and other leadership communication skills. Kimberly has over 14 years experience training clients in Switzerland, 20 years of global experience at the DuPont company, and degrees in communications (MACCC) and engineering (BSEE).

    Photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/wavy-haired-woman-holding-a-megaphone-7859937/

     

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