Watch This If People Don’t Take You Seriously

Ever feel like your words just don’t land with the weight you want them to? It turns out, the way you speak might be the reason people aren’t taking you seriously. This isn’t about being loud or aggressive; it’s about how you frame your thoughts and express yourself. If you find yourself struggling to be heard or respected, it’s probably time to take a good look at your communication style.

Key Takeaways

• Starting sentences with "I feel" or "I think" can weaken your message.
• Communicating from a place of emotion, rather than certainty, can undermine your credibility.
• Auditing your communication habits is the first step to being taken more seriously.

The Problem With "I Feel" and "I Think"

Let’s be honest, we all use phrases like "I feel" or "I think" pretty often. It seems harmless, right? But when you start a sentence with these phrases, you’re actually signaling a lack of certainty. You’re not presenting a fact or a strong opinion; you’re presenting a personal feeling or a tentative thought. This can make you sound unsure of yourself, even if you’re absolutely convinced about what you’re saying.

Think about it: if someone says, "I think this is the best approach," it sounds a lot less convincing than, "This is the best approach." The first one leaves room for doubt, while the second one states it as a matter of fact. When you want people to take you seriously, you need to project confidence, and that starts with how you phrase your statements.

Communicating From Emotion vs. Certainty

When your communication is heavily based on feelings, it can come across as less objective and, frankly, less authoritative. People tend to trust and respect statements that are grounded in facts or presented with a clear sense of conviction. If you’re constantly saying "I feel like this is wrong" or "I think we should do that," you’re inviting people to question your judgment.

It’s not that your feelings aren’t valid, but in professional or serious discussions, leading with them can dilute your message. Instead, try to state your point directly and then, if necessary, explain the reasoning or the feeling behind it. This way, you’re presenting a solid point first, and then backing it up, rather than leading with a potentially shaky emotional foundation.

How to Audit Your Communication

So, what can you do about it? The first step is to become aware of your own speech patterns. Start paying attention to how you begin your sentences, especially in meetings or important conversations. You might be surprised at how often you default to "I feel" or "I think."

Try this: record yourself talking about a topic you’re knowledgeable about. Listen back and count how many times you use those tentative phrases. Then, try rephrasing those sentences to be more direct. For example, instead of "I feel like this project is behind schedule," try "This project is behind schedule." It sounds stronger, doesn’t it?

Making this shift takes practice. It’s about retraining your brain to express confidence, even when you’re not 100% sure. But by consciously choosing more direct language, you’ll start to notice a difference in how people respond to you. They’ll likely start taking your words more seriously.