What do an Uber ride and your next professional email have in common? More than you’d think.
Last week, I took an Uber from the airport to my hotel. My driver was a former airline employee from Romania who spoke four languages. He said he doesn’t speak them perfectly, just well enough to connect, and that’s what matters to him.
Over 40 minutes, we talked about languages, immigration, food, politics and life… All in English sprinkled with a few French and German.
What struck me most was his word choice. Even when we disagreed, he spoke without judgement, blame or frustration. That made our conversation open, respectful, and refreshing.
And it left me thinking:
The same is true in professional emails.
Your words shape how your message is received.
Let’s compare these two sentences:
❌The project has been delayed, and this will cause problems
✅ The project is slightly delayed, but we’re adjusting our timeline to ensure a smooth process.
See the difference?
Positive language helps you:
✔️Come across as a problem-solver.
✔️Handle issues without sounding negative.
✔️Build strong relationships.
Now your turn, what’s the most unexpected lesson you’ve learned from a stranger/colleague that helped you professionally?
