English Speaking Skills: Tips for Spicing up Conversation

English Speaking Skills:  Tips for Spicing up Conversation The lovely thing about conversations is that you can add to your skill of making your conversations even more satisfying. Consider this:  Borrow an idea from professional speakers and develop a collection of attention-getting small stories or quotes to use in conversations.  Gather together these sayings and stories from […]

Complaints- How to Respond

Complaints- How to Respond Top tip: treat a complaint with as much respect as an order, letting customers know you are eager to serve them as to sell them. (Paraphrased from L.E. Frailey, Handbook of Business Letters)       Rerun from Jan 4, 2016

English Speaking Skills: Small Talk Topics

English Speaking Skills:  Small Talk Topics Holidays are occasions for gatherings and conversation. We also use small talk conversations to build rapport and relationship when we gather for meetings.  Thirdly, even when waiting for events to begin, we often engage in conversation and build connection to those people around us. Whether or not we are […]

Acknowledgments and Confirmation- Useful Phrases

Acknowledgments and Confirmation- Useful Phrases Here are some useful phrases for acknowledgments and confirmations: as I mentioned on the phone as we agreed yesterday I enjoyed our conversation of in response to your letter I sincerely appreciated look forward to continuing our discussion thank you for the package that this will acknowledge the receipt of […]

English Speaking Skills: Top Communication Skills — Especially as a New Hire

English Speaking Skills:  Top Communication Skills — Especially as a New Hire Communication skills are critical for all.  What is crucial for a new hire is super important no matter how long you have worked at an organization. Communication is critical for clear understanding of your responsibilities.  Ask these questions as a new hire and […]

Acknowledgments and Confirmation- Format

Acknowledgments and Confirmation- Format Some tips on format: Use email for routine acknowledgments and confirmations. For business records, be sure to have back-up file copies of transactions. Personal acknowledgments and confirmations are handwritten on informal personal stationery. Email can be used for casual situations.       Rerun from Dec 21, 2015

English Speaking Skills: Top Tips for Leadership — Especially as a New Hire

English Speaking Skills:  Top Tips for Leadership  — Especially as a New Hire Here are some top tips and guidelines for your leadership and coordinating your efforts with your team at work. Take time to understand the company’s current goals and how things work. First, listen and learn. Then do your leadership job and move […]

Acknowledgments and Confirmation- Tips on Promptness

Acknowledgments and Confirmation- Tips on Promptness Do write promptly.  Acknowledgments are, by their very nature, sent immediately. One except is acknowledging expressions of sympathy.  Because of the hardships involved, responses may be sent up to six weeks later. Or, a close relative of the bereaved may write the acknowledgment:  “Mother asked me to tell you how […]

English Speaking Skills: Top Tips for Figuring Out Your Work Culture

English Speaking Skills:  Top Tips for Figuring Out Your Work Culture Do you notice that some people at work are confident and so very comfortable with their work and colleagues? You have probably figured out that all work environments are not the same.  We call that culture – work culture. Consider these tips when you […]

Acknowledgements and Confirmation- How to say it

Acknowledgements and Confirmation- How to say it To make communication clear, here are suggestions for what to include in communications of acknowledgement or confirming: State precisely (reservation, amount, letter, order) what you are acknowledging or confirming. Refer to the date and occasion of your last contact (telephone conversation, previous letter or email, in-person discussion). Describe what action, if […]