Shadowing or Mirroring: Which is Best for Pharmaceutical Sales Professionals?

Every day I hear my pharma sales clients and friends say they want to improve their English at home.

However, finding an effective method can be challenging. Especially when you don't have time to waste! So, here are some proven ideas you can try!

Research suggests that shadowing—listening to a speaker and saying the words at the same time—can help you speak more fluently.

On the other hand, mirroring—watching a speaker and copying their gestures and expressions—can help you look confident and build trust with your colleagues, clients, or audience.

What Is Shadowing?

Shadowing means you listen to a good speaker and try to say the words at the same time they speak.

This method helps you practice speaking clearly and quickly.

Here are some simple tips for shadowing:

• Listen Carefully: Find a video or audio clip of an expert speaker.
• Speak Along: Try to repeat the words at the same time.
• Practice Regularly: Spend a few minutes each day to improve your skills.
• Record Yourself: Listen to your recording to check your pronunciation.

What Is Mirroring?

Mirroring means you watch a speaker’s face and body and copy their gestures and expressions.

This method helps you learn how to use body language to look confident and friendly.

Here are some simple tips for mirroring:

• Watch Expert Speakers: Look at videos of top pharma sales professionals.
• Practice in a Mirror: Watch yourself while you speak to see your expressions and gestures.
• Ask for Feedback: Get advice from a friend or coach on how to improve.
• Stay Natural: Copy what you see, but keep your own style.

Which One Is Best for You?

Both shadowing and mirroring are useful, and you can choose one based on what you need:

Use Shadowing if You Want to:

• Improve your pronunciation.
• Speak more smoothly and quickly.
• Practice complex technical words.

Use Mirroring if You Want to:

• Build a confident presence.
• Improve your body language.
• Connect better with your audience.

For the best results, try using both methods. Practice shadowing to get your words right and mirroring to boost your confidence and appearance.

Recommendations Based on Your English Level

• For Lower-Level Speakers: If you are still building your English skills, start with shadowing. Shadowing helps you learn the right sounds and rhythm of the language. It is a great way to improve your pronunciation and fluency.

• For Advanced Speakers: If you already speak English clearly, you might try mirroring to improve your body language and confidence. Mirroring can help you connect better with your audience by making your gestures and expressions more natural.

• For Everyone: Even if you start with one method, you can try adding the other as you improve. Many professionals find that using both shadowing and mirroring together gives the best results.

Conclusion

Of course, good communication is essential in pharmaceutical sales.

By practicing shadowing and mirroring, you can improve both your speaking and body language skills.

Use these methods every day, and you will soon see the difference in how you speak and present yourself. Start today to stand out in the competitive pharma sales industry!

Special Opportunity: Take the PharmaSpeak CEFR Level Assessment

We’re excited to offer the world’s first CEFR English-level assessment designed for pharmaceutical sales professionals!

?? Why take it?

• Determine your English level (A1-C2) based on pharma-specific vocabulary and communication skills.
• Get personalized feedback on your strengths and improvement areas.

?? It’s free for our newsletter members!

Click here to take the assessment: https://james-pharmaspeak.kit.com/694f36a897

Once completed, our team will send you detailed feedback.

See you next week!

Warm regards,

James

PharmaSpeak Coordinator