3 Real Horror stories! Can you relate?!

Staying within the theme of Halloween, here are three English horror stories for you! Then the SOLUTIONS to how you can overcome these and really BE PREPARED to face any horror situations!

These are true stories...!

Horror story 1.

While working with a client recently, she told me how she was at a conference and her boss was due to present to around 200 people, International colleagues, including many from America and the UK.

Her boss was going to present their updates in English.

When they were all at the venue, about 30 minutes before they were due to start, he approached my client and said that he’d had a great idea in the car driving there - “Why don’t you present the first part for me, in English?”

She said the blood literally drained from her head!

She refused. Perhaps rightly so because we all know that the first rule of public speaking is:?Be prepared,?practice!!

She probably could have done it. However- this totally unexpected request at the last minute, to present something unprepared in English - to 200 people (native speakers) was perhaps quite unfair!!

So, what can?we?do to overcome this fear of the potential worst case scenario?

Solution:?Practise this scenario as much as possible in a controlled environment. Being asked to do random presentations in English, when your coach or teacher asks you!

Horror story 2.

Pronunciation Paranoia and Problems related!

Did you know that so many people are afraid to speak in a meeting or to their colleagues in English because of their unclear pronunciation?

I have had many clients who have had this fear. Just imagine, or maybe you can relate, to going to an interview, speaking in front of a large group of people in a meeting, or meeting your ‘native speaker’ boss for the first time… speaking to them in your high level of English, but to be met with an expression of confusion! This cold, confused stare back at you simply breaks the connection in that moment! I have worked with people in high positions, they just cannot afford for their team to be confused at what they are saying, maybe even laughing at their bad pronunciation, no matter what their level of English.

Solution:?Really do a deep analysis of your pronunciation. Focus on imitating one native accent, ie. English or American. Listen and copy a native speaker. Record yourself and even better work with a native speaker to really discover the letters/syllables, intonation and linking words to work on. Personal feedback will help resolve these problems.

Horror story 3.

Using the right Register!

Worst case scenario: You are a manager but the HR department calls you in and tells you they have received complaints about you being rude, direct and upsetting the team!

This happened to my client who was from a culture where speaking very directly is quite normal and not considered rude or offensive.

He had thought, he told me, that he was being kind and polite to his team. So imagine his shock when HR asked him to change his tone because they had received complaints!

How did we prevent this from happening again? We practised using the right phrases and tone of voice to make it clear that he was not there to offend …

Solution:?Work on using the right tenses, words and sentence structures in the appropriate situations.

The best way to overcome your fear of the worst case scenario for you when communicating in English, is to confront these fears.

Let me know if you have had any similar situations!

I hope you have a relaxing weekend and no nightmare scenarios like these ones!