When you don’t think a baby is cute
As a good rule of thumb, unless you have something nice to say, better not say it. This is especially valid when someone asks you one of the most dreaded questions of all time: “Isn’t my baby cute?” Your answer to that? “Of course!””. Always. The baby may not look cute to you, compared to your own or to other babies you’ve seen, but no one wants to hear something bad about their baby’s looks.
“All babies are beautiful in some way,” says Robyn. “Sharing that beauty with the new parent supports them through a stressful transition.”
When discussing your professional weaknesses
“What are your greatest weaknesses?” This is one of the questions that job seekers dread the most. How can you answer that without ruining your chances of getting the job? Well, I can tell you what you shouldn’t say if you still want to make a good impression: the whole truth.
“Disclosing too much may come back to bite you by casting you in a negative light to the interviewer,” says Hinek. “It’s important to strike a balance between your objective of getting the job and your self-respect in wanting to be open and honest.” Admitting you have a problem with waking up in the morning or not managing your time properly is not exactly helpful when trying to get a new gig.
When you think your boss is a bad manager
Badmouthing your boss every time he leaves the room, no matter how bad he is at doing his job, does not make you a better replacement. In fact, the whole situation might turn against you. “Telling the truth at work can come back and haunt us,” says Robyn. “At some point, we might hear that the leadership is aware that we are unhappy with them and in turn wonder if we are a good fit for the company.”
When you think your coworkers are not as smart as you are
If you think the level of stupidity present in your office is mind-boggling, don’t just go around and say it. No one likes to hear they’re not considered smart or good enough at doing their jobs. “Often, when we think we are building a reputation of telling the truth, we are actually building a reputation of being a complainer,” says Robyn.
More than that, constantly pointing out that you are smarter and better prepared to do certain tasks will not always help you land on a higher position within the company. Contrary to what many people think, a 2019 survey carried out by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, revealed that the skill that employers seek most when recruiting their employees is the ability to work in a team followed by professionalism, leadership and career management competencies.
