A practical guide to storytelling in business
People have always told stories and they are a vital part of our communication. Today, storytelling has become accepted (and sometimes expected) in a professional context.
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People have always told stories and they are a vital part of our communication. Today, storytelling has become accepted (and sometimes expected) in a professional context.
Most of my participants attend meetings with clients, partners and colleagues, and sometimes it’s necessary to reschedule a meeting via email. My participants are concerned about the tone of the email, letting others down, and losing trust and credibility.
The word “investment” can be used with many word combinations and phrases. The more combinations you are familiar with, the more it helps with fluency and automaticity. Look at some examples below. The above are common combinations after and before the word investment, can you think of any more? Try out the quiz below […]
As the workplace and teams become more international, companies which formerly held Goal Performance Dialogues (GPD – annual meeting with your boss) in the language of their own country are completing them in English. This tip will provide you with useful phrases that you can use in your next GPD with your team. Tips for […]
In many environments, the value of giving praise may be viewed very differently depending on factors such as age, culture, personality, personal perception of the value of praise, etc. First, look at the list of possible considerations below based on Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Diversity in Global Business, by Fons Trompenaars and Charles […]
Ever wanted to make your meetings more productive? 47% of people consider too many meetings the biggest waste of time at work. Can you relate to this figure? So what can be done to prevent this? And what are some of the biggest issues with meetings in general? Listen to the conversations below and decide […]
Two real difficulties in business meetings are knowing when and how to interrupt effectively, and how to handle interruptions. Listen to the following dialogue from a team meeting where they are discussing a suitable hotel for their next company event. Try to remember which interruption phrase was used in each case. Did you catch some […]
Listen to the podcast to find out how writing a polite email can be remembered as a type of ‘hamburger’. Look at the following phrases in the quiz and choose if they are used in the top bun, meat or bottom bun of the polite email. For further information, please see the Target Training blog […]
Closing lines of an email are a small part of the actual email, however a very important one. This is when you are in control and can influence the kind of reply you receive from the recipient, the action that is required or the impression you leave the receiver with. Look at the closing lines […]
We use indirect language in English in many areas of business and for many different reasons: to be polite, diplomatic or formal, or to show respect and build business relationships. Indirect language tends to be soft, positive and friendly. Sometimes when you are presenting you may need to reduce the significance of points which are […]
Trade fairs are great for your business and for you as a professional to really shine and make yourself known. They are opportunities to connect, network, meet potential customers and check out the competition. So you have to be on the ball and ready with the right things to say in set scenarios. Having some […]
Most people will be in the difficult situation of explaining or justifying an unpopular decision at some point in their career. Different people may try to explain these difficult decisions in different ways. Look at the chart below and compare the similarities and differences. Listen to the recordings below and decide which method each speaker […]
Sometimes you may be in a situation where you have to make a phone call but are unsure how to begin the call. Listen to examples of the following four scenarios: a) established relationship with an existing partner b) looking for information but with no contact name. c) returning a missed call d) making a […]
Before I read the book “The Happy Mind”, by Kevin Horsley and Louis Fourie, I already knew that happiness comes from the self and that the building blocks of happiness are things that have no physical form. Things like love, acceptance and beliefs are what give or take away happiness – ultimately.
Have you ever heard of the “rule of three” in presentations? This technique can really help you to deliver information effectively, and engage your audience, as well as making sure they take something away (hopefully what you had planned for them to take away!). Find out why this is useful and how you can use […]
On-the-job (OTJ) training has been a cornerstone in our approach to in-house Business English training since our first InCorporate Trainers started their jobs. When we explain the concept of on-the-job training to potential clients…
When writing status updates, it is important to be clear and straightforward. This is especially important in international business environments where English is not everyone’s first language. If you are looking for English phrases to use for status emails, please see this blog post. Keep it simple In order to keep things as simple as […]
If someone is unhappy with your performance at work, wouldn’t you want to know? At the very least, you’d like an opportunity to clear the air, or address the problem, or explain…or something. Yet when it comes to giving negative or difficult feedback, most of us feel reluctant to give it.
Often in an international business environment, you will meet new colleagues or associates who you will be working with on a regular basis. In this quick tip you will see useful phrases for ‘breaking the ice’ with your new contacts. Listen to some example conversations between new colleagues and associates. Conversation one: Conversation two: Conversation […]
On certain occasions it is necessary to send an email to an associate when something has gone wrong. Below you will find a simple structure with phrases to be used when you want to detail this problem, inform the recipient what you have done to remedy this, and to include a polite apology. Here is […]