10 Phrases That Make You Sound Less Confident (and What to Say Instead)

I’ve noticed something about the way people communicate—especially those who struggle with self-doubt. They use certain phrases that immediately make them seem less credible, less assertive, and honestly? Less likely to be taken seriously.

I caught my own employees saying these things, and I realized just how common these habits are. If you want to be seen as confident, respected, and capable, it’s time to cut these from your vocabulary.

My trick? Before you say something, ask yourself: Can you imagine a CEO saying this? If the answer is no, then you shouldn’t either.

Here are 10 phrases that make you sound less confident—and what to say instead:

1. “I’m no expert, but…”If you start a sentence this way, you’ve already discredited yourself before you’ve even made your point. If you’re speaking on something, you clearly have insight—so own it.

✅ Try instead: “Based on my experience…” or “Here’s what I’ve found…”

2. “I don’t want to take too much of your time…”This makes it sound like what you’re about to say isn’t worth listening to AND you are shrinking yourself, making it seem like you don't want to take up too much time and space. Instead, be direct and confident in your request.

✅ Try instead: “I’ll keep this brief—here’s what I need…”

3. “I would like to ask a question…”You don’t need to announce that you’re about to ask a question—just ask it. This adds unnecessary hesitation that weakens your presence.

✅ Try instead: “Can you clarify…” or “What’s the best approach for…”

4. “Sorry to bother you, but…”Leading with an apology immediately puts you in a weaker position. If you need something, ask for it without unnecessary guilt.

✅ Try instead: “Do you have a moment? Can we discuss…”

5. “I just think that…”The word just minimizes your statement and makes it seem less important. Remove it, and your point instantly sounds stronger.

✅ Try instead: “I think that…”

6. “Does that make sense?”This subtly suggests that you don’t trust your own ability to communicate clearly. Instead, assume you’ve been understood and invite further discussion.

✅ Try instead: “Let me know if you have any questions.”

7. “We could maybe try…”“Maybe” makes you sound unsure. If you have a suggestion, state it with confidence.

✅ Try instead: “I recommend we try…” or “Let’s go with…”

8. “This might be a stupid question, but…”Never undermine yourself before you even ask the question. Every question is valid, and phrasing it this way only makes you seem insecure. Plus, someone else might be really happy that you asked. High chances are that if you had the question, someone had it too.

✅ Try instead: “I’d like to clarify something…” or “Can you help me understand…”

9. “I could be wrong, but…”This phrase immediately makes people doubt what you’re about to say. If you’re not sure about something, ask with confidence instead.

✅ Try instead: “I believe X is correct, but let’s confirm.”

10.This last one is not a phrase, but rather a filler word. I needed to add it to the list because it is used TOO frequently and it can really downplay what you are saying. That word is "hum". We sometimes use it so no one has time to cut us off, or we want to show that we are thinking. But really, we don't need it, all we need is a pause, it looks much more polished and confident.

Confidence isn’t just about what you know—it’s about how you communicate.

The way you speak shapes how others perceive you. If you constantly undermine yourself with hesitant language, people will assume you’re unsure, even if you know exactly what you’re doing.

Ready to stop second-guessing yourself? It starts with changing the way you talk. Try removing these phrases for a week and see how people start responding differently to you. You’ll be surprised at how much more credible and self-assured you sound—just by making a few small tweaks.