Somehow Labour Day weekend has passed, and thousands of students are returning to school in the Lower Mainland. We working adults tend to relax certain rules during the summertime, adopting more casual dress in the office, and taking seasonal vacations. Summer offers an opportunity to relax our minds, but sometimes we allow our attitudes to relax more than we desire. Now that people are returning back to work, and new grads no longer have an excuse to ‘take a break’ from the stresses of their final year at school, let’s discuss ways to replace colloquial summer chatter with more appropriate speech.
Whether you’re engaged in a second interview, having a casual coffee with a new colleague or making a new acquaintance at a networking event, it’s painful when the words you want to say are so casual that you madly search your head for a replacement that you cannot seem to find.
If the word you need to say is cool or awesome, remember that you’re actually trying to express perfection. You can say that something is fantastic, or what the person has just said ‘sounds inspiring.’ Focus on being more descriptive about the thing which you are referring to, and think of what is it that you find so interesting before making the flat statement that something is cool.
If you find yourself constantly saying ummmm, realize that you’re doing so! Before responding to the person you’re speaking to, replace your ummmm with ‘you know what, I wonder _____,’ if you’re actually trying to ask a follow-up question. You can also replace an ummmm with the phrases ‘I thought _____,’ ‘I think _____,’ or ‘I wonder _____.’
The key to appropriate speech is expressing thoughtful phrases. As you begin networking again, or perhaps for the first time, realize that the impression you leave on people can be directly affected by the way you verbally express yourself. Having said that, speak truthfully and tactfully to avoid colloquialisms.
Posted by Geraldine Sangalang 
