How to go from Passive to Active

It's August already and I hope you are all sunning yourself on the beach and having a great holiday. Maybe this will give you the time to read this.

I have a question. What does learning how to swim have in common with business English communications?

Well, after speaking to many of my clients, they all seem to have a common problem. They come up against a brick wall as far as improving their spoken English is concerned.

They find their Business Communication Skills Hit a Plateau!

Many professionals, including native English speakers, eventually hit a plateau with their business communication abilities. No matter how many books they read or courses they take, their skills stop improving.

Frustration sets in but WHY?

This standstill typically happens because most resources rely on passive studying. While this is important, consuming content alone is not good enough to master advanced English.

As the saying goes, reading about swimming won’t make you Michael Phelps. To improve, you need to dive in and actually practice. You need to make mistakes and learn from them.

The key is immersive practice is through roleplay.

Just as swimmers drill techniques like breathing, flipping, and stroke rhythm, you must rehearse realistic scenarios. This active practice builds muscle memory and confidence. This also gets you to turn your passive vocabulary into active vocabulary.

For example, if presenting at meetings freezes you up, practice presenting to a coach. If you dread mingling at company happy hours, simulate that small talk. Run through difficult conversations like delivering critical feedback or resolving conflicts in a roleplay situation.

Approaching your weak spots through mock sessions allows you to fail safely to succeed ultimately. You expand your comfort zone in manageable steps. Each time you put yourself out there, you gather feedback from your mentor to polish your skills.

Here are some common communication challenges along with roleplay solutions:

Public Speaking: Become an engaging presenter through run-throughs focused on storytelling, audience interaction, crisp delivery, and visual aid use. Videotape your practice talks to self-critique is a great way to improve.

Small Talk: Build a toolbox of questions, and witty remarks, by simulating mingling at events. Learn how to initiate, navigate, and exit conversations smoothly.

Meetings: Practice running the agenda as the leader. Contribute ideas assertively. Practice thinking on your feet when faced with questions or pushback.

Confrontations: Have someone act as an angry customer or co-worker. Learn to stay calm, really listen, find solutions, and preserve the relationship.

Cross-Cultural Communication: Adjust your speed, formality, analogies, humour etc. based on the audience. Become adaptable.

Client Interactions: Build rapport quickly. Upsell services. Handle objections gracefully. Explain delays or issues. Send clear follow-ups.

Remember, the goal isn’t imitation but developing your authentic voice.

Don’t get discouraged if roleplay feels awkward at first. Discomfort means you’re growing. With regular practice, your brain builds new neural pathways that translate into smooth communication.

If you feel stuck on your journey toward even greater speaking, consider working with a communication coach. Having an objective expert observe you, provide feedback, and design customized scenarios can accelerate your progress tremendously.

This is something that is included in my program, there is nothing like it.

But regardless of how you tackle this, remember the power of immersion.

Stop passively treading water in your learning. Dive into the depths of active practice, and turn that passive vocabulary into Active speech.

If you are interested in working with me you can find me here on LinkedIn or alternatively email me at [email protected] to book a call.