21Positive Words and Language
‘Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door’.
—Kyle Chandler
You can use all the best sales techniques in the world, but if you come across like a negative teenager on the phone with poor vocabulary and negative words, you are doomed to fail.
People like to talk to positive people, and along with sounding enthusiastic, passionate and genuine, you need to make sure the words you use have a positive impact on your prospects and client base. In the following table, see if you can think of the positive alternatives to the words provided in the left column.
| Sorry to keep you waiting |
| I'm afraid/unfortunately |
| But |
| I hope/I think |
| Don't worry |
| No problem/no worries |
| Bear with me |
| I'm sorry |
| Don't hesitate to call |
| Pop in (for a quick chat) |
| Is it convenient to speak? |
The key is to use positive language in every conversation and in your every email correspondence. It will take practice in the beginning, and after some time it becomes part of your daily vocabulary. In the following table, check these positive alternatives to the words mentioned in the previous table:
| Sorry to keep you waiting | Thank you for waiting |
| I'm afraid/unfortunately | At present/since |
| But | However/having said |
| I hope/I think | I'm sure/I trust |
| Don't worry | Be assured that |
| No problem/no worries | Certainly/my |
| Bear with me | Just a moment |
| I'm sorry | I do apologise |
| Don't hesitate to call | Please feel free to call ... |
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