Phrases that energize those around you
With 2025 effectively underway, some of you may be thinking you want to make your workplace communication a bit brighter. From "Do Everything You Want to Do! (Yuki Usui)," I would like to introduce a few phrases that seem likely to energize those around you when used.
I'll try it first
There are many situations where we use "for now" with a similar meaning, but I think "I'll try it first" conveys a more positive attitude and is better. Of course, you can't just accept everything, though...
I'm looking forward to it / It's becoming an interesting development / I'm eagerly awaiting it
If words like these were written at the end of an email or conversation, the reader would feel excited, wouldn't they? I think people are naturally drawn to those who seem to show them a bright future. By lifting the other person's spirits a little at the end, both you and the other person can feel energized.
Amazing / As expected / Wonderful
Everyone feels happy when their strengths and merits are recognized. I want to use the 3S words (Sugoi, Sasuga, Subarashii) skillfully to shine a spotlight on the good points. Since just praising someone can seem insincere, I also want to add a reason, such as "It's amazing that you can do [this]."
Words with emotional temperature, such as surprise, regret, and empathy
When you have to decline something, rather than using the 3D words (Dame/No, Dekinai/Can't, Doushite/Why), using phrases that include the emotional temperature of surprise, regret, or empathy—such as "Oh! Is there a reason for that?", "I was aiming to meet the deadline, but... that's a problem," or "Something must have really happened..."—avoids a direct refusal and creates the possibility of drawing out the other person's true feelings.
The 3Y's of softness, kindness, and peace of mind
By using phrases at the end of emails or conversations that bring softness, kindness, and peace of mind while casually showing interest in the other person, communication becomes warmer. For example, being able to casually say things like "I bought and read the book you told me about before" or "I want to emulate this aspect of yours" also conveys your interest in them.
Certainly, that's also good
This is a phrase you can use when you feel like denying the other person's opinion during a meeting. By saying "Certainly, that's also good," you convey that the other person's opinion is just one option, while encouraging other opinions and steering the meeting toward a more active direction.
Could you lend me your strength?
Even for a difficult request, if you really need the other person's cooperation... by ending an email with a question like this phrase, the probability that the other person will feel like "maybe I should think about it" increases. "Could you share your wisdom with me?" also seems likely to lift the other person's feeling of "maybe I'll try to help them out."
Summary
I have picked out a few items from the book, focusing on phrases that are easy to use in emails, meetings, and conversations. Writing it out like this makes me realize that there are still many ways to improve my usual email phrases.
I thought that from now on, before sending an email, I would take a breath and think about the impression it gives the other person before pressing the send button.
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