9 phrases that immediately make people trust you less, and most people use at least 3 of them daily without realizing the damage - Silicon Canals

"After interviewing over 200 people for various articles, I've become hypersensitive to the subtle ways trust builds or breaks in conversation. And here's what I've discovered: we all use phrases that quietly erode trust, often multiple times a day, completely unaware of the damage we're doing to our relationships and credibility. The fascinating part? These aren't obvious lies or manipulative statements. They're everyday phrases that seem harmless but trigger our brain's ancient alarm systems, making people instinctively pull back from us."

"When we say "trust me," we're essentially asking someone to bypass their natural judgment and just accept what we're saying. But trust doesn't work that way. It's earned through consistent actions, not demanded through words. Every time you feel compelled to say this phrase, pause and ask yourself why you need to convince someone so explicitly. Could you provide evidence instead? Share specific examples? Let your track record speak for itself?"

Interviewing over 200 people reveals subtle cues that build or break trust, including changes in body language and increased phone-checking. Everyday phrases often erode trust unconsciously by triggering ancient alarm systems in listeners' brains, causing them to pull back. Phrases that demand belief, like 'trust me,' ask people to bypass natural judgment and therefore undermine credibility. Trust is established through consistent actions, transparent communication, evidence, and specific examples rather than verbal reassurances. Pausing before using convincing language and letting past behavior and documented examples demonstrate reliability leads to stronger, more resilient trust.

Read at Silicon Canals