**1. Talk in terms of progress + outcomes** Instead of: *“I’ve been looking into that…”* Say: *“I’ve completed the initial review, and I’m moving into drafting — aiming to share by Thursday.”* **2. Use dates, not “soons”** Instead of: *“I’ll send something over shortly…”* Say: *“I’ll send you a draft by end of day tomorrow.”* Even if it’s rough, that clarity builds confidence. **3. Name the next step, even if it’s small** Instead of: *“Still working on it.”* Say: *“I’ve done A and B. Next up is C — I’ll do that first thing tomorrow.”* **4. Preempt delays with ownership** Instead of: *“It’s been a bit delayed…”* Say: *“It’s taking longer than planned — I’ve adjusted the timeline and flagged blockers. Here’s how I’m moving it forward.”* **5. Use active verbs** Use language like: - *“I’ve drafted…”* - *“I’ve handed off…”* - *“I’ve scheduled…”* - *“I’ve sent…”* - *“I’m reviewing now, next step is…”* **6. Summarise with clarity** End with a roundup like: *“So to summarise: we’re here, I’m doing this next, and you’ll hear from me by X.”* This kind of structured delivery language changes how people perceive your impact.