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If you think the recipe for ruling your workplace is made up of equal parts honed skill and hard work, you’re ignorant of an important ingredient of career success. Sure, talent and overtime count for a lot, but making sure the right words come out of your mouth at key moments is also crucial. Knowing the perfect thing to say to charm a bigwig, unload some tiresome tasks, or just handle awkward encounters can make your work life easier and win you the promotions, moolah, and perks that await smooth office operators. To help you attain those goals, we’ve assembled a crib sheet of 10 phrases to keep on the tip of your tongue.

Goal 1: Deliver bad news in the best possible way.
“There’s something we need to fix.”

You’ve just learned there’s a big problem with a super-important project. While your first impulse may be to burst into your higher-ups’ office to announce the project’s doom, that’s not your best strategy. It will earn you a rep for being unable to cope in a crisis, plus you’ll tempt your superior to shoot the messenger—blame you for the disaster even if it’s not your fault. A better tactic? To deliver bad news in a way that provokes minimum wrath. Take a deep breath, remove all emotion from your voice, and say: “There’s something we need to fix.” Do not, by any means, use the word problem to describe the, um, problem. “A problem sounds like something that’s out of your control and impossible to deal with, but by using a less grave label, you’re communication that this is something to be overcome—a wall to scale rather an insurmountable roadblock,” says Mel Silberman, Ph.D., author of PeopleSmart: Developing Your Interpersonal Intelligence (Berrett-Koehler, 2000). And using the word ‘we’ will be very reassuring to your listener. “You’re not just dumping it on the other person to handle,” says Karen Randall, author of The 12 Truths About Surviving and Succeeding in the Office (Berkley, 1998). “You’re assuring her that you will be part of the solution.”

Goal 2: Be indispensable to the head honcho.
“I’ll take care of it right away.”

Use this phrase efficiently and soon your boss will be doing (and hopefully paying) everything possible to keep you at the company. “Saying I’ll take care of it tells someone ‘you don’t even have to think about this again,’” says Silberman. “That takes a load off your boss’s mind.” If you respond to an issue she raises by acting anxious about how to get it done, you add to your boss’s myriad stresses. But if you calmly and confidently say that you’re on top of it, your boss will sleep easier at night.’

Goal 3: Look like a team player.
“Jane had the best idea.”

One of your coworkers had an idea so brilliant, you’re bumming it should have been yours. Rather than turn an unflattering shade of green take advantage of the spotlight on her by stealing some of it for yourself. The next time you have a bigwig’s ear in a meeting or in the elevator say, “Jane had a great idea or if her genius has already had the time, “Didn’t Jane have the best idea?” “Complimenting a peer really sets you apart in your boss’s eyes,” says Harold Chambers, author of Getting Promoted (Perseus, 1999). “Most people are very competitive or insecure to do it, so you’ll look like a winner.” And by coming off as a good-natured team player, you’ll make your superior see you as an ally.

Goal 4: Convince a coworker to help you out.
“Your ideas would be so invaluable to this report.”

You’re aiming to get some assistance on a difficult assignment (a.k.a. shrink some work), and one of your coworkers happens to be really talented at the task at hand. So how do you convince this person to eagerly and enthusiastically give you time and brainpower? Flatter, flatter, flatter and then promise payback. “Tell her that only she can give you the quality and input you need and she won’t deny you,” says Silberman. “You’re stroking her ego by saying she’s good at something, and she’s going to seize the opportunity to reinforce the reputation.” Once your target tentatively agrees to pitch in, say, “Oh, I’ll have to repay you someday.” People like feeling that someone owes them. But remember: If the job you’re getting help on is praised later, be sure to give your coworker credit.

Goal 5: Dodge a question if you don’t know the answer.
“I’d like to give that some serious thought. Can I get you a memo by three?”

Your supervisor turns to you and poses a question beginning with “What’s the latest news on…” and you have absolutely nothing to say on the topic. Definitely don’t let on that you’re clueless. “If you put a top to the inquiry by promising a detailed memo will follow shortly, you’re implying that you take the subject so seriously that you simple can’t give a fast answer,” says Dana May Casperon, author of Power Etiquette: What You Don’t Know Can Kill Your Career (Amacom, 1999). This response not only covers your butt, it makes you look thoughtful and diligent. Of course, the second you’re back at your desk, you’d better bust that butt to get the promised memo in by your self-assigned deadline.

Goal 6: Put an end to inappropriate (male) behavior.
“Ooh, I don’t know if this conversation is appropriate.”

If a male coworker compliments your appearance or chats about sexual topics in a way that makes you uncomfortable, use this phrase to tell him to stop, pronto. “Sometimes men say things that qualify as sexual harassment without intending to,” says Chambers. If you can’t tell if he’s malicious or just clueless, advises Chambers, a non-accusatory phrase like this one should sort it out. If his intentions are innocent, it’ll wake him up and he’ll watch his step in the future. But if he still doesn’t stop the sexual talk, he’s a harassing swine and you should report his behavior to the boss.

Goal 7: Lighten your workload.
“I know how important this assignment is. Can we review my workload so I can prioritize?”

Your manager gives you yet another hefty assignment when you already have a to-do list that would stress out Martha Stewart. Rather than saying “No Problem,” and then failing to turn it in on time or working into the wee hours to get it done and thus inviting similar overload in the future, tell your manager up front that it just ain’t happening. How to say no without looking surly and insubordinate? “First, emphasize that you know how important the project is,” says Chambers. “Then ask for help prioritizing. This makes your manager realize how much you’re doing so she can adjust your workload accordingly.” Certain things will have to go to the bottom of the list, which gives you permission to ignore them until you have more time.

Goal 8: Charm a bigwig at an office party.
“I’d be very interested to know your thoughts on…”

You’re next to the big cheese at an office event, and you have to (eek!) make small talk. It’s a golden opportunity to get noticed by the boss, but what do you say? Talking about your day-to-day work activities is inappropriate in this quasi-social setting, but dithering on about the weather will render you forgettable. Instead, says Rober Kelley, Ph.D., author of How to Be a Star at Work (Times Business, 1999), ask a thoughtful question about your organization’s big-picture philosophy. “Ask her view of industry trends or about the threat of the competition.” This small-talk moment will score you some valuable knowledge and the boss will enjoy your conversation because you’re raised a topic she can talk about; and most important, your interest in areas of the business beyond your own job will peg you as a rising star.

Goal 9: Admit you screwed up (without looking like a screw-up).
“It was my oversight.”

You can’t help making an ugly error every once in a while, but how you address your screw-up determines whether your bad move bounces of you or tarnishes your image. It’s essential to own up to your mistake—denying responsibility makes you look like a slimy wimp—but that doesn’t mean you should lavish apologies on everyone affected. You want to accept blame without drawing extra attention to your blunder. This sort, sweet assertion does that—labeling the offense an oversight is a cagey way of minimizing it—and puts an end to the subject. “Finish by saying that it won’t happen again,” says Silberman.

Goal 10: Look cool in the face of criticism.
“I appreciate your feedback, and I’ll think hard about your suggestions.”

Having your work corrected and critiqued is as awkward as it is upsetting. You don’t want to let on that you’re upset by what’s been said, but you want your criticizer to know you get the message. This phrase is the perfect comeback, because “it makes you look respectful, yet strong,” says Randall. “Your office superiors need to feel that you can hear criticism without getting angry or crumbling.”