By Dave Mangene
Yes, there are a billion Chinese people that do business in Mandarin, but English is still the main language of international business. Take a look at the 5 ways your English is hurting your career and what you can do to fix it.
1. PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU.
You talk too fast. Your pronunciation isn't very clear. When you talk, people get that look that says, "WTF is he talking about?"
If you're lucky, English people will tell you they don't understand. But most of us won't tell you. To us, it's rude to tell you.
If you consistently confuse us, we won't do business with you. It's too hard to communicate, let alone build a fruitful relationship. If we can't understand you, the deal is done before it started.
HOW TO FIX THIS?
Firstly, slow down. Just slow down. Don't talk too fast. Enunciate the words. Don't try to sound smart by using complex sentences and fancy words. Keep it simple.
2. PEOPLE DON'T LIKE YOU.
Likeability is a big deal everywhere, but especially in English speaking countries. You must talk to people to get them to like you. You need words to develop a relationship. In the worst case scenario, you're so afraid to talk that you let other people do the talking for you.
Bad idea.
If you won't talk, and let others talk for you, we'll think you're arrogant. Or cold. Or aloof. None of which are good.
We do business with people we like. Period.
HOW TO FIX THIS?
Likeability is about having the courage to be vulnerable. Your English doesn't have to be perfect, or even very good, because if you'll dare to expose your weakness to us, and speak anyway, we'll like you.
Likeability is also about listening. Conversations can't be a one way street. If you want us to like you, you gotta listen.
3. PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE YOU.
The problem with speaking bad English is that it affects your credibility. You might have great ideas but if you can't articulate them, you'll get nowhere. We'll think you're unprofessional, and worse yet - incompetent. Nobody wants to do business with a fool.
HOW TO FIX THIS?
Get some help from an English teacher. Find out what you're doing wrong and work to improve it.
4. PEOPLE DON'T TRUST YOU.
Bad grammar can lead to mistakes that keep us from trusting you. For example, you could use the wrong future tense at the wrong moment and accidentally make a promise that you didn't mean to make. If you didn't mean to make the promise, there's no way you can keep it and we end up feeling screwed.
That's when we stop trusting you.
HOW TO FIX THIS?
Study the future tense, for one. Study the modal verbs too: could, should, would, may, might. Many people make mistakes with those verbs.
5. PEOPLE IGNORE YOU.
If you develop a reputation for being a bad English speaker, English people will ignore you because talking to you is too awkward. So we find someone else to talk to. In Holland, that's not hard because there's always a Dutch person ready to speak English. But if you're the Dutch person who won't speak English, prepare to be ignored.
HOW TO FIX THIS?
Get over the idea that perfect English exists. It doesn't. Not even for native speakers. You gotta fight through your fear and speak. If you do that, people will talk to you.
Good luck!
~ DAVE
ps - for free tips to instantly improve your English, every Friday, click here.
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