English Speaking Skills: More Tips on When You Have to Say No

English Speaking Skills:  More Tips on When You Have to Say No We all want to be able to say “yes” to all requests for help.  However, there are always times when we have to say no.  Here are some more techniques which let us feel more comfortable and the other person feel more comfortable, […]

Acknowledgements and Confirmations- Personal Acknowledgments

Acknowledgements and Confirmations- Personal Acknowledgments You always acknowledge expressions of condolence. You generally or usually acknowledge anniversary or birthday greetings, congratulations, apologies, or divorce announcements.     Rerun from Nov 30, 2015

English Speaking Skills- When You Have to Say No

English Speaking Skills- When You Have to Say No   Many of us have a hard time saying no.  However, from time to time, we all have to say it – and with practice, we can get better at it.  Oh yes, we can say no in a way that lets us feel more comfortable […]

Acknowledgments and Confirmations- Other Tips

Acknowledgments and Confirmations- Other Tips Sometimes a letter of acknowledgment also serves as a “thank you.”  Or it says you received the message or materials, but will respond later, or that you passed them on to the appropriate person. Sometimes, also, “acknowledgment” letters are really marketing letters that use the excuse of acknowledging something (an order, a payment) […]

Public Speaking- The Power in Pauses

Public Speaking- The Power in Pauses   You know that pauses are great for giving people time to process your information.  Pauses are also a perfect strategy for catching audience interest. But that is not all.  Instead of getting flustered with the unexpected, either from you or your surroundings, here are several other clever uses […]

Acknowledgements and Confirmations- The basics

Acknowledgments and Confirmations- The basics “Life is not so short but that there is always time for courtesy.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson Letters of acknowledgment and letters of confirmation are similar.  The letter of acknowledgment says, “I received your letter (email, telephone call, gift, materials).” The letter of confirmations says, “I received your letter (email, message, […]

Public Speaking: The Silence is the Gold—Where to Pause

Public Speaking:  The Silence is the Gold—Where to Pause Have you noticed that the best presenters use pauses when they talk?  You know it sounds and feels good.  Where are they pausing?  Here are three examples: After introductory phrases or clauses “By the time we finish with this endless series of meetings [Pause] we may […]

Acceptances: Paragraphs

Acceptances: Paragraphs Here are some well-composed paragraphs of acceptances. I will be delighted to have dinner with you on Friday, the fourteenth of April, at seven o’clock.  Thanks so much for asking me.  I can hardly wait to see you and Rueben again. Thanks for telling me how much the children at the Thomasville Afterschool Program liked […]

Public Speaking- Gestures

Public Speaking- Gestures   When doing a presentation, gestures are a wonderful way to get people’s attention and to emphasize information. Watching for gestures of professional presenters or debaters is a great way to alert you to gestures you can use. Study and engrain in your memory what you see. Here are observations from the most recent […]

Acceptances: Choice and Excellent Sentences

Acceptances: Choice and Excellent Sentences Here are some sentences putting together communication advice for a variety of acceptances: After reviewing your application, we are pleased to be able to offer you the funding requested. I accept with pleasure the position of senior business analyst. I am happy to be able to do this. I appreciate very much […]