Stop Saying “I Think” — Speak with Confidence and Influence Instantly

What if two simple words are quietly undermining your confidence, authority, and influence every time you speak?

In this episode of The Winning Edge Coach Podcast, Kev Oakley breaks down one of the most overlooked communication habits that weakens your presence: saying “I think". While it may sound polite, this subtle phrase can dilute your message, signal uncertainty, and make your ideas easier to dismiss—whether you're in a meeting, coaching a client, or leading a team.

Inspired by insights from Lorraine K. Lee (CNBC Make It), this episode introduces a powerful language shift that can instantly upgrade how you’re perceived: replacing “I think” with “I recommend".

You’ll learn:

Why minimising language reduces authority and confidence

How small wording changes impact how others perceive your expertise

Real-world examples for work, leadership, coaching, and everyday conversations

How to sound confident without coming across as arrogant

Practical strategies to break weak language habits and communicate with clarity

This is a simple but powerful communication upgrade that can transform how you show up in conversations—and how seriously people take you.

If you're a coach, leader, athlete, or high performer looking to sharpen your communication and elevate your influence, this episode gives you a practical edge you can apply immediately.

Subscribe for weekly insights on mindset, performance, leadership, and communication strategies designed to help you perform at your best when it matters most

Transcript

Two Words That Shrink Authority

SPEAKER_00 0:00

What if I told you that there were two tiny words you say every day that quietly make people take you less seriously? Words that instantly soften your message, dilute your authority, and make your ideas easier to ignore, even when they're absolutely right. You don't notice them, other people don't call them out, but your brain feels the difference, and so does your audience. Those two words I think. Today we're going to swap them for something far more powerful. Welcome back to the Winnie Edge Coach Podcast. I'm your host, Kev Oakley, and this is where we break down the tools, tactics, strategies that build a stronger, more resilient mindset so you can perform at your best when it matters the most. In today's episode, we're breaking down how a simple language shift can upgrade your presence, your confidence, and your influence in every conversation, from the locker room to the boardroom.

Minimising Language And Hidden Doubt

SPEAKER_00 1:11

This short episode of the podcast is inspired by an article from best selling author and corporate keynote speaker Lorraine K. Lee on CNBC's Make It titled Stop Saying I Think, Sound Confident and Influence People. Use this subtle but powerful swap. It's a smart and practical way for anyone who wants to be heard and taken seriously. So let's get going. Picture this, you're in a team meeting, or maybe chatting with friends, and you say, I think we should go with option A or I think we should leave at seven. Or maybe I think we should we could change the plan. Harmless, right? But that little phrase I think quietly signals doubt. It sounds like you're testing the water instead of taking a position. Lorraine calls this kind of phrasing minimizing language, words that water down your message instead of reinforcing it. Think about how often you say I just wanted to. Maybe we could. Sorry, but they sound polite, they feel safe, but they make your statements easier to dismiss. In environments where confidence and clarity matter, boardrooms, training grounds, negotiations, leadership settings, this language can seriously weaken your presence. And the key point, you might not feel unsure what your words are creating that impression for you. So how do we fix this without turning into some overconfident caricature?

The Stronger Swap To I Recommend

SPEAKER_00 2:53

Lorraine suggests one simple powerful swap. Instead of I think say I recommend. Let's put them side by side. I think we should move the deadline versus I recommend moving the deadline. Both sentences have the same underlying idea, however, the impact is completely different. The first sounds tentative, like you're floating a suggestion and waiting to see if it lands. The second sounds deliberate, considered and accountable. When you say I recommend you claim ownership of the perspective. Step into the role of someone who guides instead rather than guesses. Signal that you've thought about it and are prepared to stand behind it. We're wired to pay attention to that kind of language. The content hasn't changed, but the frame has, and people react to the frame.

Work And Life Examples That Land

SPEAKER_00 3:55

Let's run through a few real world examples so you can hear the difference and start using it immediately. Let's start with work. Instead of I think we should go with the second proposal. Try. I recommend we go with the second proposal. Instead of I think we should prioritize this project this quarter, try. I recommend we prioritize this project this quarter. Instead of I think we should push the feature to the next sprint, try. I recommend we push this feature to the next sprint so we can chip X on time. Outside of work, instead of I think we should try this restaurant, try. I recommend trying this restaurant. Instead of I think we should leave around 7, try. I recommend we leave at 7 so we miss the traffic. It's not about being bossy, it's about being clear. If you're in any kind of coaching or leadership role, this matters even more. Athletes, clients, teams, they want to feel you have a view, not that you're apologizing for having an opinion.

Sound Certain While Staying Open

SPEAKER_00 5:11

Now, what about when you genuinely aren't certain? You don't want to fake it, you don't want to sound like you're claiming the absolute truth, you do want to invite discussion. You can still use I recommend. You just give it context. For example, based on what I've seen so far, I recommend. Looking at the data we have, I'd recommend. From my experience with similar situations I'd recommend. You're doing three things showing your reasoning, grounding your recommendation in evidence or experience, speaking from a confident but open position. You can then add That's my recommendation. What do you see that I might be missing? That's confident and collaborative. You're not shrinking your voice, you're inviting others into a conversation you're leading. The use of that phrase I think is a habit. It's a verbal reflex. If you've been using it for years, it's wired in.

Four Practical Ways To Rewire

SPEAKER_00 6:18

So let's talk about how to unwind it, unwire it practically. Strategy one, listen for it. For the next 24 hours, just notice how often I think shows up in your speech. No judgment, just data. Strategy two ask for accountability. Tell a trusted friend, colleague or partner I'm trying to cut down on I think. If you catch me saying it, call me out. Turn it into a lighthearted challenge. You'll rewire faster with external feedback. Strategy three pause before you speak. That half second pause is enough for your brain to choose a stronger opening. Instead of defaulting to I think we should. My view is what I'd go with. Strategy four check your writing. Open your emails, WhatsApp, whatever whatever you write, look for I think just maybe sorry but then rewrite, substituting the phrases with I recommend, I suggest. My view is here's what I propose. These micro edits change two things how others read you, how you experience your own voice. You start to see yourself as someone whose opinions are worth stating clearly.

The Seven-Day Language Challenge

SPEAKER_00 7:54

Here's your winning edge takeaway for this week. If you want to sound more confidence, increase your influence and be taken seriously, start with the small words. Language is one of the fastest upgrades available to you. No qualifications required, no new equipment, just awareness and repetition. So here's your challenge. For the next seven days, consciously replace I think with I recommend at least three times a day. Meetings, emails, messages, it all counts. Then watch what happens. Do people push back less and engage more? Do your ideas land with more weight? Do you feel steadier when you speak? It's a small linguistic shift, but it gives you a big psychological edge, both in how others see you and how you see yourself as a leader, coach or eye performer.

Credits Links And Sharing The Lesson

SPEAKER_00 8:57

As we close out today's episode, I just want to recognize Lorraine Kaylee and CNBC Make It for the original article that inspired today's episode. You'll find a link to the full piece in the show notes so you can dive deeper into her work. Lorraine is also the author of Unforgettable Presence Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career, which I highly recommend if you're serious about strengthening your presence at work and beyond. Again, I'll put a link in the show notes for it. This episode helped you hear your own language, share it with someone who's been underselling themselves with, I think. One swap to I recommend might be actually what they need.

Subscribe Review And Closing Reminder

SPEAKER_00 9:44

And if you haven't already, make sure you're subscribed to the Winning Edge Coach Podcast on your preferred podcasting platform. If you found this useful, leave a rating or review. It helps the show to reach more people who want to perform at their best when it matters most. Thanks again once for listening to the Winning Edge Coach Podcast. Catch you on the next episode. But remember, it's not just what you say, it's how you say it that shapes your influence. Next time, speak with purpose, act with confidence, and keep your winning edge.