Rewriting the language of work relationships: What to say, what not to say

In today’s world of remote desks and digital handshakes, many of us wake up to an inbox crowded with phrases like “hope this email finds you well”, “circling back”, or “touch base.” According to a recent study by ZeroBounce , these are not just polite habits, they are clichés that show up in literally 1 in 50 emails. When the language of our relationships at work becomes formulaic, it begins to blur the lines between genuine connection and automated routine. The subtle power dynamics, trust and human-to-human interaction that underlie every project, every collaboration, every “Let’s align on this…” get hidden beneath layers of jargon. Think about it: you have just joined a new team or you are collaborating with a long-term colleague. You send, “Reaching out to see if you’re aligned