Being better in meetings is to everyone’s benefit. However, if you’re speaking English and it’s not your first Language, then these three tips may be even more important for you. Whilst these may not be groundbreaking, they are certainly forgotten by many people, native or otherwise. So, as a quick review of some essential skills, let’s look at these top three tips for meetings in English.
1. Speak to Express, not to Impress
Impressing people in a meeting will not be done by using your best English. Whilst you may be able to get your point across very well, what matters more is what you are actually saying. What is your message. What is it that you are contributing to the discussion. Having lots of different words to say I agree or disagree isn’t what really matters in meetings.
What matters is your expertise or knowledge of the subject that is being discussed. Yes, you need to communicate, but if you can get your idea across to other people, that’s what really matters.
2. Don’t worry About the Mistakes.
We wrote in a previous post “Stop Apologising for Your English” that being perfect is not necessary. So many people who are learning English think that they need to say what they are going to say, perfectly. This is just not true. In fact, many native English speakers do not express themselves properly at all. There are lots of mistakes. And, many native speakers of English use simple structures, repeat themselves often, leave big pauses and make noises such as er…., um…… and hmmmm…. whilst they are searching for what it is that they want to say. So, mistakes will happen, by everyone. Focus on the message, focus on what you want to express and do your best to express it. But don’t beat yourself up about the mistakes.
…being an international speaker of English already puts you ahead of many native speakers who struggle to understand other languages. You are already pushing yourself as a leader, a role model and a communicator.
3. Being Vulnerable is not Weakness
Asking someone to repeat what they have said, going blank when you need to speak, asking for a moment to collect your thoughts or for clarification. This is being vulnerable, but it isn’t being weak. Not having the exact word does not take away from your knowledge and expertise. In fact, being an international speaker of English already puts you ahead of many native speakers who struggle to understand other languages. You are already pushing yourself as a leader, a role model and a communicator. Asking for the right word is not weakness, it’s strength that shows you can be vulnerable, but it doesn’t prevent you from being authoritative and an essential contributor to the meeting.
So, there you have our top three tips for meetings. Asking for help is ultimately asking to learn. We learn from each other all the time, asking for help with English is no different and we shouldn’t feel like we are making ourselves weak.
Know your subject, express yourself as best you can, ask for help when needed, and be an example to others for learning, collaboration and leadership.
