If you’ve been working hard to grow your business, putting your heart into your messaging, and still feel like something’s not quite landing, it might be that you aren’t aware of these phrases to avoid. More specifically, three small but powerful words that quietly creep into your conversations, your emails, your DMs, and your offers, sabotaging your business from the inside out.

It’s not your fault. Most of us, especially women, weren’t taught to sell in a way that honors how we naturally lead, connect, and communicate. And those old selling models? Friend, they just weren’t built for us.

So, we adapt.
We soften our tone.
Mistakenly downplay our brilliance and surrender our power, trying not to sound like “too much.”

Let’s change that and unpack the three seemingly innocent words that are sabotaging your business, and what to say instead.

Why ‘Just’ (The Invisible Apology) Is One of the Top Sales Phrases to Avoid

How many times have you started a message with, “Just following up…” or ended a post with, “Just wanted to share…”?

It may seem polite, but “just” is often an unconscious way of asking for permission. It signals that you’re trying to soften your presence, make yourself smaller, and take up less space, especially in moments where you’re actually trying to lead. Research from Harvard Business Review shows that even small language shifts can change how confident and credible we appear in professional conversations.

The word “just” carries the energy of:
I don’t want to bother you
I know I’m not supposed to ask for this
I hope it’s okay if I say this

The problem? That energy leaks into every offer, pitch, and piece of content. And your audience feels it and it erodes your sales confidence and keeps you from showing up like you.

Instead of “just,” try one of these confident alternatives:

• “Here’s what I want to share with you today.”
• “This is something I believe will support you right now.”
• “Here’s an opportunity that aligns with where you’re headed.”

You don’t need to tiptoe into the conversation. Stand in it and connect. When you replace “just,” you stop apologizing for showing up, and start leading with presence.

Why ‘Try’ Weakens Your Sales Language (The Half Commitment)

“I’ll try to keep the conversation to 15 minutes.”
“You could try this offer and see if it helps.”
“Let’s try to work together on this.”

The word “try” gives you an out. It sounds like commitment, but it’s actually avoidance. And when it comes to sabotaging your business, it might be one of the sneakiest culprits of all.

Try lacks conviction. It creates a gap between your intention and your action. And if you’re not convinced, your audience won’t be either.

More importantly, “try” reveals something deeper: you might not feel safe to fully show up. You’re protecting yourself from rejection, failure, or discomfort by staying vague. But that only keeps you in limbo, never quite moving forward, never quite fully stepping in.

Here’s what to say instead:

• “I’m committed to showing up every week.”
• “This is the next right step for you.”
• “I’m ready to support you with this offer.”

That language creates clarity. And clarity builds confidence, both for you and your audience.

How ‘Hope’ Undermines Your Sales Confidence

“Hopefully this solves your problem.”
“I hope you like this offer.”
“Let’s hope this works.”

Hope sounds positive, but in a business context, it puts all your power outside of you. It implies that the outcome is up to chance, not leadership. And your clients? They don’t pay for hope. They pay for trust, clarity, and conviction.

Saying “hope” can also be a sign that you’re struggling with self-doubt. That you don’t fully believe your offer will land. That you’re bracing yourself for disappointment in case it doesn’t.

This is a nervous system survival strategy, not a sales strategy.

So let’s shift the script. Say things like:

• “I know this will solve their problem.”
• “I trust the process I’ve built.”
• “This offer creates real results.”

When you stop outsourcing your confidence and start speaking from belief, you lead differently. You speak from your core, not your fear.

And here’s the truth: this isn’t about judgment. It’s about awareness. You’re not wrong for using these words, you’ve been conditioned to speak this way. But now that you’re building a business rooted in alignment, integrity, and impact, your language has to evolve with you.

Because your words shape your energy.
Your energy shapes your presence.
And your presence? That’s what sells.

Rewire Your Sales Language

So, what do you do now?

You begin by choosing words that match the leader you’re becoming. That reflect your clarity, your certainty, your embodied confidence.

You start saying:

• “This is the offer I’m proud to share.”
• “I trust the value this brings.”
• “I’m ready to support the right clients now.”

And most importantly, you practice speaking this way even before you feel 100% ready. Because confidence isn’t a prerequisite—it’s a result of practice, consistency, and presence.

Ready to Shift Your Business in a Major Way?

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Sabotaging your business doesn’t always have to look like a failed launch or someone ghosting your Instagram. Sometimes it may simply be the words “just,” “try,” or “hope.”

Lead with the confidence you already hold. Speak like the woman your business is becoming. You don’t have to shrink to succeed. You get to sell with presence, purpose, and power.

Now go back through your last few posts and emails. Find the words that don’t serve you. Replace them. And see what happens when you stop sabotaging your business, and start leading it.

Written by Genevieve Skory, Sales Confidence Coach and Business Growth Strategist for Female Entrepreneurs.
© 2025 Genevieve Skory