If you’re looking to learn how to improve business communication skills in English, there are many ways to do so with the help of free resources. By utilizing these resources, you can enhance your Business English skills, which can be crucial for achieving your career-related goals.
If you want to be immensely proficient in Business English, you probably know that attending private training or courses isn’t enough. While these programs, free and paid alike, can help enhance your skills, you need to take complete control and responsibility for your learning journey. The good thing is, there are many ways you can explore and do to improve your skills without affecting your schedule or your pocket.
If you’re looking for ways how to improve business communication skills, read on and discover effective strategies. Implementing these proven tips and utilizing free resources available to you can help a lot in mastering Business English.
Push Forward: How to Improve Your Business Communication Skills in English Every Day
Driven by needs and motivation, anyone of us can get fluent and proficient in Business English regardless of race. All around us, there are people, things, and plenty of other factors that can help us enhance our skills proactively. Some strategies might require you to give minimal effort, while others would somehow make you feel the pressure. However, if you would focus on your goals and let nothing stop you from reaching them, everything else would be easy and tolerable. Here are some essential tips to keep in mind.
Do not be afraid to ask for help.
Perhaps, you already have a college degree, and you need fluency in Business English to achieve career-related goals. There are significant achievements under your wings already, and you are proud of yourself. Understandably, you might feel it tricky or awkward to ask others for help. However, there are many instances in our lives wherein we need to get over our egos. If you are not a native English speaker, accept the fact that you would need to ask others for help, in one way or another.
You’ll likely meet native English speakers or people who are already fluent in the language in your circle. Instead of feeling inferior to them and avoiding talking to them, see these colleagues as a learning resource. For instance, you have written a proposal or created a presentation in English. Before submitting them, try to get one of these people to proofread your work. Don’t forget to ask what changes they have made, as well as the explanation. This can help you improve your presentation skills and build confidence in communicating in English. Remember to accept feedback professionally and use it as an opportunity for growth.
Get into the habit of watching and listening to business-related media.
The good thing about self-learning is that you’ll never run out of free and helpful resources out there. However, since you are after enhancing your Business English skills, you should pick podcasts, movies, or television series relevant to your goals. You need to run a search on the net, and you’d find almost endless options. If you’re not that patient in narrowing down your options, then here are some helpful suggestions for you.
If you’re after enhancing your business leadership skills, you can download the podcast “Dose of Leadership. For enhancing your intellect about global issues, then you’d surely love “Ted Radio Hour.” For entrepreneurial-related learning, you might want to check out “Startup.”
As for the TV series, here are three of your top options, The Office, Shark Tank, and Fast Money. The first one is a quirky sitcom that will help you learn business humor. The second one focuses on assisting business-minded individuals in securing investment, while the last one will help you learn valuable trading knowledge.
Keep notes either on your phone or in a notebook.
Learning opportunities to improve your Business English vocabulary can be found anywhere and anytime. The key is to remain observant! When you encounter Business English phrases and words frequently, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. To avoid information overload, try jotting down 5-7 phrases a day and their meanings in a notebook or on your phone. This way, you can review them later and gradually improve your vocabulary without overwhelming yourself.
The next thing to do is to dedicate time to reviewing these phrases, let’s say, at night before you go to sleep. Internalize what you have learned that day. The next day or the moment you see an opportunity, try using your new knowledge. And also, no matter how good you get, do not stop learning.
Take advantage of casual conversations.
If you feel awkward asking for help, you may find it hard to engage in casual conversations with fluent speakers of Business English. However, as mentioned above, these people are not your competitors. They can serve as your mentor without giving you under pressure. If you feel shy, try speaking to one or two first. Eat lunch with them and engage in friendly conversations. Rehearse if you feel the need to do it. Practice if you have time, and don’t be shy to make mistakes. It will help if you tell them firsthand that you want to enhance your Business English skills, and any help from them would be much appreciated.
Create a schedule and stick to it.
If you want to know how to improve business communication in English like a pro, you must be disciplined and goal-driven. No matter how busy your day is, you need to designate time for studying or create a study routine.
For instance, do you take the subway on your way to the office? Listen to the podcast or scroll on your phone. If you travel by car, you can listen to recordings or news. Or perhaps, you can set up your alarm 15 minutes earlier than your usual wake-up time. As they say, the early bird gets the worm. You’ll never know how much you can learn within this time frame, especially when your brain has been refreshed from a good night’s sleep. In case you’re not a morning person, dedicate at least 20 minutes before you retire for the night. Several studies suggest that when you think of something, or you internalize it before you go to sleep, you’ll likely remember it better the next day.
Jump at every possible opportunity.
No matter how busy your day gets, there is always a moment wherein you can take a short break. Instead of blindly scrolling for entertainment, browse business news or anything that can give you valuable insights about the subject. Doing this consistently can improve your knowledge and confidence in discussing business-related topics. The more you engage with these resources, the more natural it would feel for you to communicate effectively with colleagues, clients, and other stakeholders in the workplace.
Based on popular research, we are all autonomous learners. We have the nature to explore, be proactive, and respond to whatever is happening around us. Also, we find it easier to push forward when we use motivation and need as the driving force. If you want to learn how to improve business communication in English, make sure to try these effective strategies to enhance your Business English skills and maximize your autonomy.`