Avoid these 5 phrases that make you sound passive aggressive—here’s how successful people communicate
By | Erica Dhawan | www.cnbc.com
Today, we live in a world where business, degrees and even entire relationships are conducted behind a screen. As a result, employee frustration and miscommunication is at an all-time high, with tone alone being misinterpreted almost half of the time in email, leading to endless wasted hours and heightened anxiety.
For better or worse, digital communication, whether it’s through email or direct messages on platforms like Slack, don’t let us see each other’s immediate reactions — which is why we look for ways to “politely” express irritation. The key word is “politely,” but it isn’t always interpreted that way.
So let’s take a look at the five most common phrases employees use that actually make them passive aggressive and petty:
1. “Per my last email…”
What it actually means: “You didn’t really read what I wrote. Pay attention this time!”
2. “For future reference…”
What it actually means: “Let me correct your blatant ‘mistake’ that you already knew was wrong.”