If you're in a leadership position at work, whether you've been in charge of employees for a long time or this is new territory for you, it's always a good idea to try and improve your leadership skills. You have no shortage of options when it comes to advice on leadership. There are endless leadership books, seminars, blogs, and people dedicated to teaching you how to be a respected, liked, and effective leader. In many cases, leaders need to adapt and change their skillset over time, too, so the learning never ends. Good leaders tend to have similar traits and they may have several phrases they use and don't use while communicating with employees.

As a leadership expert noted, refining your communication is crucial for effective leadership. To become a better leader, it's important to skip these phrases that might hinder your impact.

"Maybe..."

It's important to be direct and clear with your employees, so steer clear of this word. Uncertainty does nobody any good in a work setting, when employees need to plan and adjust their work based off your direction.

"In my opinion..."

You're leading a team and setting the course of action, so unless it's casual talk in the breakroom, be clear and factual. Employees will appreciate directness and act on your plans.

"I'm the boss..."

Being a clear, factual leader does not mean you should act bossy. It's good to gather opinions and brainstorm, but ultimately it's your role to make the decisions. This does not make you the almighty one. It's your job...and doing your job helps your employees do their jobs.

Of course, there are many other things you can do to become a better leader and become more engaged and connected to your employees. Consider starting an employee of the month program to recognize effort and hardwork. A little recognition can go a long way in making your employees feel valued and appreciated. You can top it off with a creative touch by ordering custom enamel pins to hand out to star employees.

The important thing is to never stop learning and trying!