English Communication: How to Say Good-bye
English Communication: How to Say Good-bye Greeting people is easy compared to saying good-bye, especially when at a social gathering. Here are some of my favorite tips for graciously departing from a conversation. The emphasis here is on “gracious.” The situation: You have listened intently and participated in a conversation. You deem it is time […]
Deciding Whether You Should Accept an Invitation to Speak- Part 1
Deciding Whether You Should Accept an Invitation to Speak- Part 1 (Of course, if your boss asks you to give a speech, do it!) First things first: Do you have the time in your schedule? o You need time to get to and from the event and answer questions Do you have time to prepare? o You […]
English Communication: How Are You? More Angles of View–In Person & On the Phone
English Communication: How Are You? More Angles of View–In Person & On the Phone It’s not what you say, but how you say it. “How are you?” is a ritual greeting in the United States. But how you say it can move it from ritual to relationship. Here are a few more angles of view: Angle […]
Make the Last Words Memorable
Make the Last Words Memorable Here’s a simple formula for setting up your final line: just say, “I have one final thought that I want to leave you with.” Or: “If you remember just one thing I’ve said today, remember this…” Then give them a whopping thought. Make it strong and make it relevant — […]
English Communication: How Are You? Two Angles of View
English Communication: How Are You? Two Angles of View “How are you?” Simple little phrase, yes? But it drives international people a little crazy in the U.S. That’s because in their home country, if people say, “How are you?”, they really do want to know how you are doing or what is happening in your […]
Write It Out
Write It Out You should write out your conclusion for two reasons. First, writing the conclusion combats stage fright. This time is the second most nerve-racking time for speakers So if you write it out, you don’t have to worry about forgetting it. Second, and most important, if you write out the conclusion, you’ll know […]
English Communication: Wicked Awesome Words
English Communication: Wicked Awesome Words The other day, Roberta (from Italy) commented, “Why does English have so many words for everything? ‘Smart,’ ‘Clever,’ ‘Brainy,’ ‘Intelligent’– in Italian we just say ‘Intelligente!’ It’s true, English has a lot of words! You may think too many. Most experts count at least 250,000. (Other experts say half a […]
Wow Your Audience
Wow Your Audience Get a business card from someone in the company that you’ll be addressing and scan in the company logo. Then you can make it appear in the corner of every screen with your logo.
English Communication: How to Put People at Ease at Meetings
English Communication: How to Put People at Ease at Meetings Sometimes you are going to a meeting to persuade. In that case, use the first five minutes to put people at ease. People’s egos are on alert status the first few minutes of a meeting, and you want to relax them so they’ll be receptive to […]
Tips for Teleconferencing
Tips for Teleconferencing Use emotion in your voice. Emphasize emotion so you don’t speak in a flat tone. Use metaphors and similes to create word pictures for others.