What Not to Say at Work Part 1: Inept and Incompetent

This is the Business English Podcast episode 612, what not to say at work Part 1, inept and incompetent. Welcome to the Business English Podcast from all years English. Get the English skills you need to achieve your dreams in global business. For a presentation, a meeting, or your office party, this is real Business English. With your favorite American hosts, Aubrey and Michelle. Coming to you from Arizona and New York City, USA. Hey Michelle, how's it going? Good Aubrey, how are you? Excellent. I am so excited to bring you guys this episode today because there are some landmines when learning any language, right? Words that have hidden meanings or an underlying meaning, meaning that isn't immediately obvious to language learners. Yes, definitely important to know about that. So today, you're going to learn about an adjective that you should not use at work. So we're going to share why and what you should stay, say, instead. So should we listen to the episode Aubrey? Yes, let's do it. All right. Hey Aubrey, how are you doing today? How's it going? Great. Lindsay, how are you? Good, but I do have a question I'd like to ask you today at the top of the show. You ready? Yes, I'm ready. So would you ever call someone inept if they didn't perform a task well? Would you say that? You are inept. I would never call someone inept. I wouldn't call myself that. I wouldn't call someone else. It's so cruel and it's such a character judgment that I would really avoid it. This came up recently in an episode, right? Yeah, I might say it about myself. Like, I'm technologically inept. I'm inept when it comes to TikTok these days. It doesn't feel too hard here. Yeah, it's kind of in a sarcastic way. I'm making fun of myself. I'm going hard on it, right? But it is so, yeah, to say to someone you are inept, not good. I agree. Yes. Okay, I kind of like that idea. If I'm being trying to use hyperbole, I'm trying to exaggerate how bad I am at something and sort of poke fun about it, be sarcastic. Then maybe, right? I'm really inept about keeping the dishes clean, keeping the sink empty. Yeah, I think when we look to be funny, especially self-deprecating humor, we go for the extreme adjectives. Yes, absolutely. And that is an extreme adjective. So there is a place for that, a place in time. But today, we're talking about why not to use it, along with a few other things, right? Yes. This came up recently in episode 2206. It was called Dork Dufus and Dweeb are these English names offensive. If you missed it, go check it out. That was an amazing episode. And we shared the dictionary definition of Dork. What was it, Lindsay? It's not really how we use the word. The dictionary can fool you sometimes. I thought it was funny how, just, I don't know, blatant this was, right? Contemptable and socially inept. But that's not really what we taught you. It's not what we mean when we say Dork. So don't let the dictionary fool you. Go check out that episode so that you have all the information you need about those words. But when inept came up, I immediately was like, oh, this is going to be a good episode for business English. So that episode is over on the Allers English podcast. Make sure you're following both. It was 2206. Go check it out. And here we're sharing in a business context why you really don't want to call someone inept and some other words that you would really want to avoid. Yeah. So let's lay the context for listeners. I mean, sometimes you're on a team, right? You're on a team. Maybe you are a project manager, you have a boss, but then you're a manager of a project and their individual contributors on your project, right? Can we imagine that scenario? So absolutely. I mean, that scenario a lot, right? I'm working with the team. I'm counting on other people to do what, you know, their parts of the project well. And then if they do, then I can and everything's all very interconnected. For sure. So there's going to be a moment when the boss is going to ask maybe let's say the project manager about the other contributors on the team. How their performance is looking, right? Absolutely. And you need phrases you need to know how to do this in a way that is respectful and professional. So we have a couple of words you would want to avoid. And then we have better options with examples. So that when you are in this situation, you know exactly what to say. Yeah. So we've got some ding, ding red flag words that we want to throw out and make sure we never use because the problem with these two words is that it's really more, it's, they're very, it's like ever lasting what you're saying. With their inept, they're always inept and they can't change. That's just how they are. That's who they are, right? Exactly. That's our leader management, which feels so much more unfair, you know, especially if you are sharing about someone's work, something that happened to call them inept will actually probably be a red flag to your supervisor that they're like, Oh, right. Right. Yeah. Feels like you're making a character judgment now. Well, let's not do that. For sure. So definitely stay away from that if someone is asking, it doesn't have to be a boss that's asking you as a manager. It also could be you're just another individual contributor and you're commenting on someone at your same level. That could be true too. Right. Exactly. So that's the first one to avoid inept. It means showing no skill. And yes, let's avoid that one, especially at work. But like Lindsay said, maybe about yourself to exaggerate, but the second one is very similar. It means it's incompetent. Yes. Similar meaning showing no skill, like having no skill in an area. There are so many better options. I would be devastated if someone said either of these words about me. Right. Yeah. No, these are, these are not very kind. Right. And again, they're more, they are really pointing towards the person. What we want to point towards is the work. Exactly. Yeah. Exactly. So let's think about that as we share these better options. When you do need to share that someone's work was not up to power. Someone's performance was not up to power. You might be in this situation. Right. And it's tricky. You, you, you probably will get that. Okay. How do I say this? How do I word this? Because it's, it's hard to know sometimes. I mean, no matter what, it's still some of the, this feedback still might be hard. I mean, remember, we're not delivering it in this episode today directly to the person, right? It's going to someone else. But if this either way, it is kind of hard to offer feedback. But if something's missing, we have to be able to do it, right? Exactly. It's especially hard if you are really close with your coworkers, your colleagues. You, it would be difficult to share that their work is not up to par. Their performance isn't up to par. But if you do it in a very respectful, professional way, then it's, okay, it has to happen. And, and then it's okay. So these phrases will do that. All right. So the first one is unprepared. This is great. It's talking about them. Yes. But it's talking about their work in that moment. Exactly. You might say, unfortunately, she seemed unprepared for the last meeting. Yeah. And you're dressing up by saying, unfortunately, you wish she had been, you want to be on her side, but you have to be honest, right? There's a lot we can do with some extra words. Exactly. Yes. Where we sort of softly dress it up, like you said. Yeah. I like that. We're being honest here. But we're also not trying to just throw somebody under the bus and make them look worse than there are. They are. There are so many other ways we could say this that would be sort of trying to imply that it's a huge problem. Totally. Or it seemed he was a bit unprepared. And we're dressing it up again. We're pulling back by saying a bit and by saying, it seemed all these words do little things, right? Exactly. If you just said he was unprepared. Right. Oh, it's much harder. It seems much more serious. I agree. Those words are softening a little still honest. But we're just pulling back a little bit on how harsh we're being. Yeah. For sure. For sure. And then what would be another example? And then if it's a little bit of a different situation where several things have happened, you might say something like, I've noticed over the past few weeks, a pattern of unpreparedness. So this is a great noun, very impressive that you're taking this, you know, adjective unprepared and saying there's a pattern of unpreparedness, which means you've noticed multiple times when they were unprepared. Yeah. This is maybe getting a little more direct because if you're seeing a pattern, you want to call it out, especially if your boss is asking you about it, right? Exactly. Yeah. So you're needing to be honest, where everyone's goal here is to fix the problem, right? To help performance be improved, to help have the end product we need. But the words we use to say that can either be respectful and professional or not. So these phrases are all that. Yes. Number two, love this guys. I hope you're writing this down because this is good stuff. Number two, could use refined refining or refinement. Yes. So this is like if you're providing feedback, maybe on something that maybe a coworker is working on something and they're asking for your feedback to say, do you feel like this is a finished product? Maybe it's a presentation, there's slides, a demo, an email. And this is a great way to say that you think it does still need refinement. It's, you know, there's still some work that could be done. Yeah, it could work either way. So again, if you're going directly, the coworker's asking, you're asking your coworker, your, the coworker's coming right back to you. Or again, if it's a scenario where the boss is asking your manager or something like that, that could work too. I think the presentation was good, although it could use a bit of refining or a bit of refinement. Yes. Yes. I love that you're using both because both work, you're either using the verb saying it could use a bit of refining. Yeah. And you can also use that noun. Yeah. And like with a little refinement, which skills will be where we need them to be. And we can talk about this either about deliverable. Or about a person's skills that still have some refinement that's needed and it's kind of a positive thing It's a motivation. It means you have a lot of it. We just need a sharpened things a little bit Again, these are words that are about development Absolutely. Yeah, we're not just trying to be critical or trying to help everyone grow and develop and be where they could be Exactly and then number three. How about this one? So yeah, this is needs improvement So you might say, oh, I think it needs improvement, but she's on the right track This could be again about a deliverable right if the slides need improvement. It's very similar to could use refinement Right or with a bit of improvement the presentation will be perfect Love that and this is so positive right you're you're being honest. You're sharing that needs improvement needs refining That's okay, right, but you're doing it in a very respectful way where this coworker is going to be grateful for your feedback rather than feeling Criticized. Yeah, and then there's one other that came to mind as we started recording is a term underdeveloped So not about the person right about the work. So I've heard this being used in academia if an essay is a little underdeveloped Right, so you're asking maybe your essay is getting peer reviewed or you're just Working on your final version and you ask your your quote classmate in your PhD program I think it's a little underdeveloped still can you build out maybe think about building out this detail and support for this idea That I think could work to if it's delivered obviously in a kind way. Yeah, I love this. I love this adjective It's so great for like a proposal a contract slides that could use improvement. They're a little underdeveloped But it's such a positive. Yeah, you're just sharing that you know some work could be done these could be better But they're they're good now as well. I don't know. I love that It's a good the be careful of just of what words you do put around it I remember I have a vague recollection. I used to work one-on-one with Language learners with English learners and I was working with a woman from Paris from France and I don't know I think she for some reason reviewed one of my Academic works. I was in graduate school at that time. I don't remember why or what the context was But she read it and I was like what did you think of it? You know, what do you think she said underdeveloped? By itself on its own would feel pretty harsh. It's true. The words you couch it with right a bit a bit and it seems a bit underdeveloped And then if you could not just stop there but share what you feel like they could add What is it missing then it'll be constructive instead of just critical? Yeah, so that might have been I'm sure that was a cultural difference there or possibly a language difference that she didn't have the language to put a Round it, but just delivering the words alone or not enough right there's so much behind the words in the words We as you said Aubrey couch it with that's such a good point if any of these if you just say them on their own a supervisor asks you and you're like I could use refining needs improve In words that you're still honest you're sharing the same message but in a respectful way. Yes Does anyone else feel like august is the sunday of summer? It's the perfect time to hit reset before the autumn rush and for me that always starts with my wardrobe Quince proves you don't need a crowded closet to look incredible. You just need the right pieces Quince specializes in effortless high quality essentials like ultra soft organic cotton and premium Golian cashmere sweaters. They're beautifully tailored built to last and transition seamlessly from morning meetings to dinner These days I keep reaching for my tensile jersey fit and flare dress The jersey fabric is so soft and the fit is really flattering plus I absolutely love the dark all of color and it's so versatile I can wear it to a casual lunch with friends or dress it up for dinner It looked really cute on Quince's website, but I was still surprised at how comfortable it was and how well it fit It really made me a fan of the brand Upgrade your every day download the Quince app for app exclusive offers or go to quince.com/bae Get free shipping on your order and 365 day returns now available in Canada and the UK too That's QUIMCE.com/bae Okay, let's put it into a role play. Shall we? Yes, you and our co-workers here. You want to start us out? Yes. All right, here we go So how is your team doing with the new demos? It's been a bit of a challenge. There are definitely a few things that need improvement I was able to sit in on Mary's presentation on Monday and she seemed a bit unprepared Yes, she had been out sick the week before so she's got some catching up to do Mark's demo could also use refining, but we're on the right track All right, so this feels like you know mostly a positive conversation But we are flagging issues that have to be addressed. We can't be blind to issues and no one's perfect I mean the model of our show is connection not perfection We're never perfect from the start so things need to be refined and developed Right and both extremes would be terrible here if I were like oh everyone's the worst no one's doing anything on time No, that's not respectful. It's not professional. Yeah, that's the truth if I'm like oh, yeah. No, it's great Where everything's fine. She's been sick. We'll be fine I'm also being honest about like yep, there's some refining some improvement needed But we're on the right track. It's also never true like people want generally I believe that people want to do a good job You know absolutely people want they're doing the very best they can with what they have But maybe it's more on the manager or the co-workers to give them a little help a little direction You know right we want that feedback. We're often asking for it And even if we don't ask for it, we're glad to get it because like you said Lindsay We're wanting to do the best we can to be a valuable member of this team And but then the way it's communicated to us can be so helpful if it's done in the right way Love it. So let's go through it real quick Aubrey So you said it's been a bit of a challenge There are definitely a few things that need improvement and I asked you about the demos Yeah, so in this I think we'll happen. It's interesting for a supervisor where I am sort of staying general I'm like oh, there are a few things that need improvement because I don't know if you just want sort of a general report on the team Or if you're asking for specifics about but then we get into the specifics because yeah Witnessed something that was someone was unprepared Right, right how much detail so maybe you hold back a little bit at first And then I go in today said I was able to sit on Mary's presentation and she seemed a bit unprepared right Yes, which is a nice way to say it right you clearly this might have been big It might have been like a real problem the some was unprepared it went terribly. We're respectfully Trying to get to the root of the problem and how do we fix it right yeah, and I let you know that she had been out sick So she's got some catching up to do I love this phrasal verb catching up catching up as a bonus time yeah bonus for today guys write it down And then marks use and then you continued by saying marks demo quit also I kind of felt like Also would fit well there too Yeah, it was interesting. I said marks demo also could use refining But I think it would feel more natural to say marks demo could also use refining both work But it's interesting how sometimes one feels more a little more right to us. Yeah, both are fine Honestly, but yeah, you could put it in after could too for sure totally good All right, where should we leave our listeners before we go into our takeaway today? I do want to make sure our listeners Hit follow right on business English go ahead and hit that follow button And don't forget that all ears English podcast is over on YouTube and soon this show business English should be on YouTube too We're working on it guys. We're working on getting it over there. All right, yes follow both shows You want the episode that inspired this one right you want to make sure you're not missing all of these amazing episodes So hit follow on all of our shows all of our shows what's the takeaway where do we leave our let me words matter Words matter right inept and incompetent should be avoided at work whether I mean maybe describing yourself sarcastically, but definitely not to describe colleagues. Yeah, and not in the context of work stuff either when you're describing yourself Of it's right Oh gosh, I'm socially inept because you know, I don't know you're making fun of yourself. It's performance was inept That's awkward for someone to be like no You do Don't say this about yourself either. Yeah, maybe we could do another episode on Poking fun at yourself in a classy way. That doesn't go too far You know, we can use the beast sarcastic, but that we wouldn't we wouldn't use it's too it's too far It's too much. Yeah, it's too far too much and I think So words matter and the words around the words also matter right exactly the way you say it what you what you couch it in like you said I love that will really make a difference on how it's received and that's everything about building connections at work Having those strong Relationships with colleagues and with supervisors. Yeah. This is a great episode guys I hope you have this vocab and we'll be back soon on business English for the next episode. All right awesome things Lindsay All right, have a good one. Bye. Bye Michelle a word like inept seems so innocent, but it can be so dangerous, right? Yeah, so we're so excited that you now have these details to avoid offending co-workers and colleagues Exactly and then of course the synonym incompetent These are used pretty interchangeably so everything you learned about inept also applies for the adjective incompetent And this is so tricky. We want to avoid using these at work and in some Instead, use one of those four alternatives we shared, like unprepared or needs refinement, something that is a lot more polite and respectful. - Yeah, absolutely. So be sure to follow for the rest of this series with other words and phrases that you should avoid using at work. - Yes, awesome, we will see you there. - All right, bye, Aubrey. - Bye. (upbeat music) - Thank you for listening to Business English, a podcast just for you, the high achieving global professional. Want more from All Ears English? Don't miss our biggest and best podcasts with eight million monthly downloads. Just search for the All Ears English podcast and hit follow to get four new episodes per week on fluency, American culture, grammar, and so much more. Or tap the link in the show notes. Remember, we believe in connection, not perfection, when it comes to learning English. Follow the All Ears English podcast now. (upbeat music)