How can you take the stress out of public speaking? Being afraid of public speaking is common. It’s even common in the business world where presentations are a regular part of life. It’s (wrongly) assumed everyone can do it. So what can you do if you are nervous about presenting? Here are 2 great tips […]
Knowing how to use email is simply assumed The use, misuse and abuse of email communication (yes, this is a true story) I met Sven in an open seminar. Sven was the manager of the facilities management department at a large manufacturing company. His administrative location had just moved premises, and as you can imagine […]
Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I’m not the most structured and organized of people. Like many managers I’ve got multiple roles – some I enjoy, others are a “necessity”. At the end of last year I was, quite frankly, ready for a break. Over the holidays I walked the dogs and […]
Choose how formal you want to be Because we send and receive so many email we tend to think that emails can be less formal than traditional letters. Keep in mind though, that the way you write can be seen by strangers and colleagues alike as a reflection of your own professionalism, intelligence, values, and […]
Email remains the most pervasive form of communication in the business world. Yet a recent study discovered that 64% of professionals feel that email has caused tension, confusion, or other negative consequences for them and their colleagues. Much of this tension and confusion comes from the way an email “sounds” to the reader – in […]
1) Write your subject line first Too many of us either just hit reply, forward or even write nothing at all in the subject line. An email with a blank subject line isn’t going to get the attention it deserves, may go unread and will certainly be difficult to find later on. Obviously you’ve planned […]
Originally published on 08.07.2013 A common problem We often hear how writing emails in English can cost just too much time. One solution that works for many people is to begin building a “toolbox” of useful phrases. A toolbox is a simple idea – you just start keeping a list of common and useful expressions […]
If you are nervous about presenting in English, making an effective introduction is especially important. An effective introduction will help your audience know what to expect and it will help you feel confident. Once you’ve started well it is easier to keep going – and don’t forget that your audience is there to listen to […]
At the time of Elvis’ death there were an estimated 170 Elvis impersonators in the world. Today there are at least 85,000 Elvis’s around the world. At this rate of growth, “statistically speaking”, one in three of the world’s population will be an Elvis impersonator by 2019. I share this for two reasons. Firstly, I’m […]
Do you ever stop and ask yourself the simple question: “What are my responsibilities as a manager?” Sounds obvious, right? But how often do you really give yourself a chance to reflect on your performance as a leader? hbspt.cta.load(455190, ‘0377217d-6395-4d26-a5fc-d32a69e484a5’, {}); The John Adair Action-centered leadership model Over the years there have been countless models […]
By applying the 70-20-10 philosophy to Business English training and integrating on-the-job and social learning alongside traditional approaches, companies can comfortably overcome the challenges they face.
In a nutshell, yes it can – and language training beyond the traditional approach is key to making an impact on performance. The 70-20-10 model reflects the increasing awareness that learning is not just about “traditional” training.
What is the 70-20-10 model? As we mentioned last week in our blog post, the 70-20-10 model has been around for a few years now, and reflects the increasing awareness that learning is not just about “traditional” training (whether it be a seminar, classroom, or an e-learning program). Research has shown we actually acquire most […]
What is the 70-20-10 model? The 70-20-10 model has been around for a few years now, and reflects the increasing awareness that learning is not just about “traditional” training (whether it be a seminar, classroom, or an e-learning program). Research has shown we actually acquire most of the knowledge, skills and behaviours we need to […]
Presentation introductions for beginners Do the thoughts of presentation introductions make you nervous? Does the idea of speaking in front of people make your mouth go dry? Well keep reading … If you are nervous about presenting in English, making effective presentation introductions is especially important. Effective presentation introductions will help your audience know what […]
Giving feedback effectively will have a real impact on your business Everybody understands that performance feedback should be constructive, focused and to the point. Effective feedback can resolve conflicts, overcome problems and improve individual and team morale. It doesn’t really need mentioning that ineffective feedback often accomplishes the opposite. Or that if you are skilled […]
Presentation techniques: tripling There are hundreds of presentation techniques, and some are more common than others. One example is that people find it easy to remember things in threes, and building on this tendency (known as tripling) is one of the simple presentation techniques that work in all presentations. You’ve probably already seen or heard […]
Listening effectively is not easy. How often do you find yourself in a conversation and not completely concentrating on what your partner is saying? hbspt.cta.load(455190, ‘0455f399-a600-43a9-848f-986da3f8ea8e’, {}); How good are your listening skills? Take a look at the ten simple questions below and assess how good your listening skills are. Be honest with yourself. As […]
All of us have “customers” of one sort or another. Whether we are working on a B2B or B2C basis, with internal or external customers, customer service skills make a huge difference at how successful you are at working with customers. Understanding what customers expect is a must. In a general sense, customers expect a […]
