Smart people, know what to say. And they do not say anything stupid like “You look tired.”
1. “It’s not fair”
2. “This is the way it’s always been done”
3. “No problem”
4. “I think …/This may be a silly idea …/I’m going to ask a stupid question”
5. “This will only take a minute”
6. “I’ll try”
7. “He’s lazy/incompetent/a jerk”
8. “That’s not in my job description”
9. “It’s not my fault”