Seven words that quietly damage credibility

Dr. Ruth Oji points out that certain words like 'maybe', 'just', and 'actually' are reflexively used in professional speech, undermining the authority and conviction of speakers. These words, while not problematic in themselves, create distance between the speaker and their statements, which can harm the perception of their seriousness. For instance, using 'just' can minimize the importance of a question or opinion, while 'maybe' introduces uncertainty that may be inappropriate in certain contexts.