Speak with Clarity Every Time (Even If English Is Not Your First Language)
Do you ever find your ideas getting lost in translation, despite knowing your subject inside out?
It’s frustrating when you see colleagues nodding politely, only to realize they didn’t quite grasp your point.
As a non-native English speaker, you may assume it’s your accent. The good news?
It’s rarely your accent that’s the culprit. It’s actually how you structure and deliver your message.
Why It Matters
Time Is Money: Misunderstandings waste precious minutes (and sometimes entire meetings).
Credibility on the Line: When your message isn’t clear, stakeholders hesitate and decisions stall.
Expertise Overlooked: Your deep knowledge deserves the spotlight, not confusion.
Here are three strategies you can use to lead with clarity and confidence in English:
3 Action Steps to Instant Clarity
Simplify Your English
Before your next presentation or email, hunt down any jargon or buzzwords (“utilize,” “leverage,” “optimize”) and swap them for everyday verbs (“use,” “tap into,” “improve”).
American business English is not formal. In fact, being able to explain complex ideas with simple language is a highly valued quality.
Use This 3-Point Framework
Goal: Lead with a promise: “Today I’ll share three strategies to cut costs by 20%.”
Benefit: You want to create buy in and engagement from the very beginning. Offer 1–2 benefits the audience/company will experience if they apply what you're presenting.
Takeaway: Close with one main idea. I recommend using "remember +": “Remember, if we want to increase our margins by next quarter, we need to start implementing these strategies by the end of this week.”
Get to the Point
I’ve noticed two common challenges for non-native speakers in the workplace:
Context Overload: Coming from cultures that value background information, they begin by going into too many details.
Over-Explaining: They are insecure about their English and assume more words will improve understanding.
Unfortunately, these two reasons often hurt your leadership influence because in American business communication, the bottom line comes first.
It may feel counterintuitive at first, but lead with your key message before diving into the details and your message will have much greater impact.
Client Spotlight
My client, a CTO at a tech company, came to me convinced his accent was to blame for his flat town-hall presentations.
Once he applied the strategies above, his updates transformed from technical monologues into gripping stories, and his team engagement soared!
Adapting your communication style to what best suits your audience might feel strange at first, but remember that being concise isn’t rude. It’s a sign of respect and professionalism.
Your Next Step
Ready to ensure your message lands every time? Join my Leadership Communication Accelerator and master the art of clear, compelling English communication.
Spots fill quickly, so apply here now and become the confident, persuasive leader you know you can be.
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