"Yeah. I had that moment during a team meeting at my second startup. I was interrupting everyone, finishing their sentences, basically acting like I was the only person in the room with a brain. My co-founder pulled me aside afterward and said something that still stings: "Nobody wants to work with someone who makes them feel stupid." That feedback was brutal. But it changed everything about how I communicate."
"I used to start half my sentences with an apology. It felt polite, like I was being considerate of other people's time. But as bestselling author and keynote speaker, Lorraine K. Lee points out, "it can make others perceive you as weak. Because if you're saying 'sorry' for taking up space in a meeting, sending a follow-up email, or asking a question, you're not being polite. You're preemptively discrediting yourself.""
"Since then, I've become obsessed with understanding what makes people respect you in conversations versus what makes them mentally check out. And here's the uncomfortable truth: many of us are killing our credibility without even knowing it. The difference between earning respect and losing it often comes down to tiny conversational habits we barely notice. These aren't obvious mistakes like insulting someone or being rude. They're subtle patterns that signal insecurity, disrespect, or weakness to the person across from you."
A habit of interrupting, finishing others' sentences, and apologizing unnecessarily damages credibility and makes people feel disrespected. A blunt example: being told 'Nobody wants to work with someone who makes them feel stupid' can prompt lasting behavioral change. Many people lose respect through subtle conversational patterns rather than overt rudeness. Preemptive apologies for asking questions or taking space signal weakness and pre-discredit the speaker. Observing and correcting tiny habits—such as stopping unnecessary apologies and letting others finish—can preserve respect, strengthen relationships, and prevent colleagues from mentally checking out during conversations.
Read at Silicon Canals
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