One thing I try to do in my day to day conversations with colleagues and friends, is to come across as an honest and genuine person. Someone who can be trusted, can be liked, and relied upon.

So what do I do? I start appending every sentence with three words that undermine everything I have said in the past, and everything I am about to say in the future. Yes, this time I am telling no lies. No untruths, no porky pies, no fluff, no spin, this time, yes this time my friend, I am telling you the truth. The whole truth. Period.

Unfortunately, it’s something that’s very easy to start a sentence with. It is conversational padding, a good starting point, a reinforcement. All I want it to do is underline that I am truthful. Unfortunately, it is actually undermining what I am saying. It is casting doubt, however slight, where there was none.

The urge to resist must be strong, and if I’m honest, I’ll admit to saying it from time to time, but I’m trying, really trying not to. Oops.