Improve Your English Communication at Work in Three Simple Steps

Do you find it hard to express your ideas and opinions in spoken English, even though you’re comfortable reading English about them—and maybe even writing about them?

Do you freeze up unexpectedly when you start to share a thought in English, even when you were ready to express it moments earlier?

Do people have difficulty getting your point? Do you avoid speaking in meetings because you’re not sure how to explain what you mean?

Do you dread questions after a presentation because your mind goes blank when asked an unexpected question?

If you’re a scientist who now works in English, it may be frustrating to still feel limited in English after all your years of study.

Imagine what it would feel like to speak English with confidence! What would it be like if you knew you could convince your coworkers or clients of the value of your proposals?

So what could make a difference?

After studying English for so long, it’s unlikely that watching more YouTube videos will help. Not even finding a patient English speaker to practice with is likely to make the difference you want.

However, you may be closer to your goals than you realize. The progress you’re looking for requires a systematic plan that addresses the exact weaknesses holding you back. You also need communication skills beyond the level you can get from basic English language classes.

Here's an analogy that might help you see what I mean. Imagine that someone you know has always wanted to take part in a major national (or international!) bike race. It wouldn’t be enough to prepare by riding his bike regularly, or even go on long-distance rides with friends. He needs to scale up to a whole different skill level!

He might start by talking with a professional trainer. The coach would examine his current biking technique and discuss the major areas he needs to work on. As he worked on those areas, he'd also need to design a training schedule to increase his speed and endurance. He would make plans to race at several smaller, local events before facing a national or international competition.?

The way to develop your English communication skills to the professional level you want is similar.

First, identify the areas you need to work on and develop a systematic plan for mastering them.

If your colleagues are having trouble understanding you, you'll want to work on your pronunciation. (You may also need to work on your word and sentence stress. They're important in English!)

If you sometimes struggle to find the right words to explain an idea or answer a question, work on building your vocabulary. That's not just knowing more words (though there are some word-building skills that are very useful).

It's also important to understand connotations: which words convey the exact thought or feeling you’re trying to express. You know how to solve scientific problems. You also need to be able to persuade others of the value and practicality of those solutions.

If you don’t know what to say in certain situations (when networking-- or in casual conversation?), include those in your plan.

Do you find it difficult to get a chance to speak in a meeting? Do you know how to interrupt when necessary, or to politely remind an interrupter that you haven’t finished? Do you find it difficult to give negative feedback, or to deal with conflict in the office? There are techniques that can help with each of those situations.

As you target and work on your weak areas, your fluency and confidence will grow. You won’t have to avoid unfamiliar situations or dread unexpected questions. You'll have the skills and vocabulary you need to handle them!

Your second step is to master professional-level communication skills like explanation and persuasion.

It’s not enough to improve the weak areas in your English. You also need to learn the professional-level communication skills that make English a tool to reach your goals.

Give effective explanations by finding out what your listeners already know and what they want to learn. Then practice giving them the examples and background that they need to understand the idea.

When you need to convince an audience of something, start by learning their perspective and values. Give them evidence, but also tell stories to help them understand the value of your proposal on a deeper level.

Practice responding to objections and making the benefits of your solution clear. Understanding your listeners' points of view will help you to find common ground and share your ideas more effectively.

Step three is to practice the new skills you have developed with role plays or mental rehearsals.

Try them out in situations like those you often encounter at work. It’s like a test drive, applying what you’ve learned so you can find and work out any remaining difficulties in a low-pressure situation.

Practice giving and receiving feedback, explaining a new idea, or arguing for a project or proposal as you might need to in a meeting…

As you apply your new skills in settings that resemble your work environment and see their success, your confidence on the job will soar. You'll add more value to discussions at work and give your ideas the hearing they deserve. Your company will be able to count on you to represent them effectively before others. It will open doors to professional recognition and to new opportunities.

Don’t get discouraged—professional-level, confident English is within your reach!

If you see the value of this approach, contact me. Let’s talk about your next steps and if you would be interested in working together to jumpstart your goals.