Salespeople often work hard to build trust, yet some common expressions can break that trust fast. These bad sales phrases sound harmless, but they can make prospects feel pressured, unsure, or even annoyed. Because of this, it’s important to understand what to avoid so you can have better conversations and more wins.
“Are You the Decision Maker?”
This is one of the most common bad sales phrases, and it often makes prospects feel small or defensive. Instead, you can say, “Who else should be part of this conversation?” This keeps the discussion open and respectful, and it helps you learn about the buying process without making people uncomfortable.
“Honestly…” or “To Be Honest…”
When you begin a sentence with “honestly,” you suggest that everything before it was not fully honest. Because of that, these can be harmful, bad sales phrases. A better approach is to speak clearly and confidently without calling your honesty into question.
“Just Checking In”
Many reps use this without thinking, but it brings no value. This is another one of the bad sales phrases that signals you don’t have a reason to reach out. You can replace it with something stronger, like “I found something that can help with your goal,” which gives the prospect a reason to respond.
“Let Me Know if You Have Questions”
Although it sounds friendly, it puts all the work on the buyer. Strong reps guide the next step instead. Rather than relying on bad sales phrases like this, you can say, “Would you like a quick call tomorrow to go over next steps?”
Final Thoughts
Avoiding bad sales phrases helps you sound more confident, more helpful, and more professional. As you remove these phrases from your daily conversations, you will build stronger trust and create a smoother path to closing more deals. Small changes in language often lead to big improvements in results.
