28. Why I Think You Should Avoid “I Think”
How would you answer your boss if she asked, “What time is the luncheon on Friday?” Would you say “The luncheon is at noon” or “I think the luncheon is at noon”?
If you picked the first sentence as your response, you are indicating that you know the information and have answered with certainty. But if you chose the second sentence, you appear unsure about your answer. By saying “I think,” you are telling your boss that you really don’t know.
Why would you tell someone that you don’t know something when you do?
A woman in one of my seminars told me that she had just done this. Even though she knew that the time for a meeting had changed, when her boss asked about it, she prefaced her answer with “I think.” ...
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