Have you ever told someone they were “wearing too many hats” or said a team needed to “get the ball rolling”?

Expressions like these show up often in the workplace but not everyone finds them helpful or even clear.

And they aren’t just colourful language. They frame your thinking, reflect your mindset and influence how people experience you.

From client meetings to internal presentations, expressions help simplify the complex. But here’s the catch: not all of them move your message —or your credibility — forward.

Some reinforce outdated power dynamics. Others sound vague, robotic or downright aggressive. And in today’s workplace, language like that doesn’t connect — it disconnects.

Let’s look at a few common culprits:

• “We need to drill down…”
  Sounds forceful. Try: “Let’s explore the core issue.” 

• “Move the needle.”
  Vague. What’s the actual shift or action? Try: “Let’s take focused action to improve team productivity.”

• “Crack the whip.”
  Harsh and harmful. Reframe it: “Let’s spark momentum together.”

Some people use them without thinking twice. Others find them confusing, aggressive or alienating.

For example, saying “pick your battles” encourages us to see decisions as conflict. That affects how we:

• Think about the issue (as a win/lose situation)
• Feel about the options (defensive, pressured, high-stakes)
• Respond or lead (with caution or control)

Language creates perception. Change the expression and you often shift the tone. You shift the mindset and that changes the outcome.

The workplace language you use is like an invisible frame around your ideas. Change the frame and your message makes the right impression.

Especially in leadership, collaboration or client-facing roles, it’s worth asking: Are the expressions I'm using making me sound credible, collaborative and clear? Or are they sending the wrong message, without me even realising it?

✅ Free Download: 10 Workplace Expressions to Rethink Right Now

Give your communication a credibility boost with this quick-reference guide. It’s short, smart and practical — perfect for anyone who leads, presents or collaborates at work.

Because the right words don’t just make you sound better.
They help you connect better and lead better.