7 subtle phrases confident people use at work that instantly earn them more respect

Ever notice how some people just command respect the moment they walk into a room—even before they say a word? It’s as if they radiate calm authority from the inside out.

Now, I don’t believe anyone is born with that kind of magnetism. From what I’ve seen (and experienced myself), it’s all about how we communicate, the tone we adopt, and the subtle signals we send when interacting with our coworkers, managers, or clients.

When I first began my career, I used to think confidence meant talking the loudest or always having the final say in a meeting. But as I learned the hard way—through plenty of awkward stumbles—real confidence is quieter. It’s built on empathy, honesty, and an underlying sense of security about your own worth.

Here at Small Biz Technology, we can’t help but notice how often it’s the little things—like a few well-chosen words—that can make or break a professional brand. Especially in an environment where we juggle so many tools, apps, and data points daily, our real power is in how we connect with each other.

Below are seven subtle phrases that I’ve observed confident people use in the workplace. They’re easy to remember and surprisingly effective at earning respect without coming off as arrogant. If you want to level up your communication game, consider peppering these into your daily conversations.

1) “I appreciate your feedback.”

I can’t tell you how many tense meeting rooms I’ve been in where people argue about ideas—rather than discuss them.

But if there’s one thing I’ve noticed confident leaders do, it’s seek out and value feedback. They don’t pretend to have all the answers, and they’re not threatened by someone pointing out a flaw or suggesting a new approach.

Saying, “I appreciate your feedback” does two key things:

• It acknowledges the other person’s perspective and effort.
• It subtly indicates that you’re secure enough to listen, learn, and—if needed—make changes.

Years ago, when I was leading my first startup, I received some tough comments on our user interface from a junior designer. My first instinct was to defend our original design, but I caught myself.

Instead, I responded with something like, “I appreciate your feedback. Let’s see how we can incorporate those ideas.” That small shift in language turned what could have been a combative moment into a collaborative one. The respect I earned that day stuck with me.

And if you still need a reason to adopt this phrase, consider what Stephen Covey said in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.”

When you genuinely appreciate feedback, you’re listening with the intent to understand—and that fosters an environment of mutual respect.

2) “I trust your judgment.”

This is one I’ve seen used by managers who really know how to build winning teams.

Confident leaders trust their people to make good decisions and even learn from not-so-great ones. And trust is contagious: when you trust someone’s judgment, they usually rise to the occasion, because they feel valued and empowered.

A simple “I trust your judgment” can be especially powerful when delegating a task. Instead of micromanaging or checking in every ten minutes, you effectively say, “I know you’ve got this.” Suddenly, you’re not just a boss or a peer—you’re an ally who believes in their abilities.

This approach aligns with something Simon Sinek has frequently highlighted: people thrive in environments where they’re given autonomy and respect. Trust breeds confidence, and confidence helps teams achieve bigger and better goals, often faster than if you tried to steer every detail yourself.

3) “Could you walk me through your thought process?”

I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears repeating: truly confident professionals know that asking questions isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of curiosity and respect. And one of my favorites is, “Could you walk me through your thought process?”

Why is this phrase so effective? Because it does two things simultaneously:

• It shows genuine interest in what the other person has to say.
• It invites them to demonstrate their knowledge or reasoning, which can be a big respect-booster for them.

I still remember sitting in a development sprint meeting when a new developer joined my team. He had a different approach to coding a key feature, and I couldn’t figure out his logic right away.

Instead of shrugging him off, I asked him to walk me through his thought process. Turned out, he had a point—his method saved us time in the long run. More importantly, I earned his respect (and the rest of the team’s) by not dismissing his idea prematurely.

Confident people aren’t afraid of uncovering flaws in their own logic or letting others take the spotlight. They embrace open-ended questions like this to collaborate more effectively.

4) “I take responsibility for that.”

Let’s be honest—no one likes owning up to mistakes. It’s way easier to point fingers, blame the deadlines, or chalk it up to “bad timing.”

But confident people accept responsibility for their actions and the outcomes they produce. That simple statement, “I take responsibility for that,” can instantly change the tone of a conversation.

I remember a time when a major client initiative fell through because of a miscommunication on my end. My gut reaction was to blame the “unclear instructions” from the client. But I realized that approach wouldn’t solve anything.

Instead, I said, “I take responsibility for the mix-up. Let’s figure out how to fix it.” We got through the crisis, and the client appreciated the honesty. Owning my part in the error ended up strengthening the relationship instead of damaging it.

This approach is backed by experts like Dr. Brad Klontz, an associate professor of financial psychology, who talks about the concept of having an “internal locus of control.” It essentially means you believe you can shape your own outcomes rather than be a perpetual victim of circumstance. And that’s a hallmark of real confidence.

5) “I’m open to suggestions.”

“I’m open to suggestions” is one of those phrases that shows you’re secure enough to admit you don’t have all the answers.

It’s especially useful when you’re wading into new territory—like integrating a new software tool into your workflow or developing a marketing campaign for a demographic you’ve never targeted before.

I used this phrase a lot when I launched my second startup, which involved a technology I wasn’t fully familiar with. My team had more direct expertise in certain systems, so every time we tested something new, I’d say, “I’m open to suggestions on how we make this smoother.” Instead of hiding behind a boss facade, I opened the door for them to bring innovative ideas forward.

Interestingly, a research piece I came across from the Harvard Business Review suggested that leaders who show vulnerability (like admitting gaps in knowledge) and invite collaboration tend to foster higher engagement levels among their teams.

Makes sense—if people see you’re willing to learn, they’re more likely to share valuable insights.

6) “I don’t know—yet.”

I can’t count how many times I’ve seen colleagues squirm when someone asks them a question they can’t answer. It’s as though admitting “I don’t know” is akin to career suicide.

But ironically, it’s one of the most confidence-laden statements you can make—when you add “yet.”

Saying, “I don’t know—yet,” signals that you’re comfortable with what you do and don’t know, but you’re also ready to figure it out. That little word “yet” communicates optimism and a growth mindset.

As James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, says, “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” Acknowledging you don’t have all the information is just another vote in favor of continual learning.

Personally, I started using this phrase after fumbling through a major pitch meeting. Someone on the client’s side asked a super-specific question, and I stumbled around an answer that was, frankly, guesswork. I left the meeting feeling like I’d lost credibility.

The next time I was stumped, I simply said, “I don’t know—yet. Let me look into it and get back to you with the details.” Everyone appreciated the honesty, and my credibility actually went up instead of down.

7) “What can I do to support you?”

This last one might sound pretty basic, but trust me—it works wonders. “What can I do to support you?” not only signals that you’re willing to offer help, but it also puts the spotlight on the other person’s needs.

Confident people know that success in business (or any team setting) isn’t a solo sport. The more you show genuine concern for your colleagues’ challenges, the stronger your professional relationships become.

I started leaning on this phrase back in my entrepreneur days when my project managers would be juggling a dozen tasks at once. A sincere “What can I do to support you?” often unearthed small but impactful ways I could lighten their load.

Sometimes it was covering a meeting or jumping on a quick call to clarify specs with a vendor. These gestures consistently came back around when I was the one needing extra help or a heads-up about an upcoming hurdle.

Simon Sinek has famously said, “Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” Asking how you can support someone is the perfect, practical way to live by that advice.

Closing it out, but not to be overlooked…

Confidence isn’t about throwing your weight around or using flashy buzzwords. It’s about honest, considered communication that makes people feel respected and valued—while also showing that you respect and value yourself.

Each of these seven subtle phrases does exactly that. They invite collaboration, acknowledge others’ contributions, and demonstrate your own sense of security.

If you’re looking to upgrade your communication game at work, try weaving in one or two of these statements the next time an opportunity arises. From my experience, these small changes lead to surprisingly big results in how people respond to you.

And remember, it’s not about faking anything. True confidence is built on a willingness to learn, share credit, and take ownership when necessary.

Use these phrases wisely, and watch how your team, peers, and even higher-ups start treating you with a little extra respect. That’s when you’ll know you’re on to something real.

Until next time, friends