'I stopped saying this one phrase at work. My boss finally noticed me.'

You know that feeling when you're in a meeting, and you have something valuable to contribute, but you stay silent for fear of being wrong?

That was me. Every. Single. Meeting.

I'm not the best speaker, and sometimes I stumble over my words.

I worried I would only be taken seriously if I sounded polished and used a bunch of corporate buzz words like "synergy".

Or, worse yet, what if I was completely wrong and my colleagues laughed me out of the meeting room?

So, because my nervous system can't tell the difference between speaking in a meeting and coming face-to-face with a tiger, I stayed silent.

If I didn't fit the corporate mould, it felt easier that way. But it turns out… there's not really a mould. At least, there shouldn't be.

"Many of us feel like we just have to fit a different vibe or act in a different way — the "professional" — which is different to the more humble ways we have of just being ourselves," said Dr Mason on the latest episode of Mamamia's BIZ podcast, which is rewriting the rules of work.

What's more, the communication coach, who's helped leaders at companies like Netflix, Microsoft and Uber, told BIZ hosts Soph Hirst and Michelle Battersby that, as women, we have a tendency to soften our opinions with caveats.

Watch: BIZ | Dr Mason shares the phrases you should never use at work. Post continues after video.

I'm not an expert, but...

This might be wrong, but...

This is probably a dumb question...

No worries if not...

I, personally, was guilty of every single one. But I didn't realise just how much they were hurting my career.

"Think about the words that stick out in those sentences," said Dr Mason. 'I'm probably wrong' but 'wrong' is what people hear and stick with. 'I'm not an expert' but we hear 'not an expert.'"

She made this brilliant comparison that really drove it home for me: "Imagine if a politician were to stand up in a stump speech and say as minister of finance, 'I'm not really an expert in finance.' We'd never hear it, even if that's the truth."

Listen to the latest episode of BIZ, where Soph and Michelle discuss how to stop apologising for existing in meetings and why asking questions actually makes you look smarter, not dumber. Post continues below

The simple switch that changed everything.

Instead of undermining myself, I followed Dr Mason's advice and started using these phrases instead.

Something I've been thinking about is...

I wanted to talk to the group about...

An idea I've had...

I'd love to get your thoughts..."

I realised my colleagues were more likely to listen to me if I didn't shut my idea down before they even had a chance to consider it themselves.

She also suggested speaking early in meetings. Which terrified me. But it's backed by science.

"Research shows that if you speak early in a meeting, you're more likely to speak again," the communication coach shared.

"And it doesn't even matter if it's small talk or just chatting to someone on the way into the meeting. There's something psychological about hearing your voice in that space."

The unexpected ripple effect.

The most surprising part of all this was that, when I started speaking with more authority, it didn't just affect how my boss saw me — it changed how the whole team operated.

As Dr Mason explained, "You'll be surprised — sometimes, when you say that, other people in the room will say, 'I was wondering that too' or they'll say to you after the meeting, 'Thanks so much for asking, I didn't want to ask, but I didn't know that either.'"

Yes, it does feel vulnerable — putting your ideas out there without those safety-net phrases we've gotten so used to. But here's the thing Dr Mason wants us all to remember:

"None of these situations, even though they feel like it, none of these situations are firing squads. No one's actually usually actively out to get you.

"If it's a good idea, someone will pick it up. And [if] it's not a good idea, someone will say, 'No, that's not really it because of X, Y, Z'. And you move forward."

So, next time you're about to doubt yourself into silence, remember: speak up. And don't dilute it! Every caveat is just another way of making yourself smaller. Your ideas deserve better than that.

And let's be honest — corporate buzzwords are overrated anyway. No one really knows what "synergy" means.

BIZ is the podcast to help get your work-life, and your life-life, sorted. Together, hosts Soph Hirst and Michelle Battersby share expert secrets and shortcuts to make you better at the job you're doing today — and help you design the career you want in the future, whatever that may be.

Soph Hirst and Michelle Battersby are your favourite new internet career mentors 💖 — helping Gen Z fast-track their careers without hating their lives.

The BIZ by Mamamia newsletter delivers honest advice from women who've actually done it. No fluff or corporate speak – just real talk about building your career and making money. Free in your inbox every Thursday. Sign up now.

Feature Image: Getty.