Persuasion

BUSINESS PHRASES THAT REMOVE EMOTION

hygiene. rule. outside my domain. doable. business decision.

The Lesson

Phrases that keep business conversations objective. 'It's just good business hygiene'-high ground that ends debate about contracts or process. 'Thank you for your professionalism'-sets expectation of professional frame. 'I have a rule'-closes requests without negotiation; rules don't change. 'That's outside my strategy/domain/comfort'-soft decline without rejection. 'Is that doable?'-shifts from 'are you willing' to 'are you able,' gets them explaining how. 'It's a business decision'-depersonalizes hard news like layoffs. Master these phrases to keep emotion out of negotiations.

Real-World Example

A founder needs to decline a partnership. Old way: 'I don't think this is right for us' (invites argument). New way: 'I have a rule about exclusivity arrangements. It's outside my strategy.' The partner can't argue with a rule. Another founder asks a vendor 'is that timeline doable?' The vendor starts explaining how they'd do it. Thinking past the sale of whether they're willing.

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