Your English Coach: Fix your English at work [parts 3 + 4]

Sometimes you need an English coach to help you improve your English at work–fast.  That’s why I’m so excited to be here with you for two more video lessons in the series where I help you–as your English coach–for a few lessons.

Last time, we talked about what happens when suddenly you need English to do your job–and you have to adapt and improve quickly. (And yes, that’s exactly why a lot of people decide they need to work with an English coach).

I shared my own English coaching strategy with you so that you can learn really fast and be very effective in improving your English at work. And you also got help, from an English coach (me) to start working on something easy to fix and essential that you will use again: a great introduction to use in your pitch…If you missed those two videos and the chance to fix your problem with your very own English coach, be sure to check them out here. 

What’s on the agenda today? 

We’ll use the smart strategies you learned in the first part of this series to improve business English skills you will use at work. You’ll get two really helpful (and short) videos again today:

• First, you’ll learn how to show your expertise when pitching and promoting yourself, your ideas, or your business.
• And then you’ll learn my top tip for finishing your pitch in a way that makes it MUCH more likely to be successful.

Oh, and because I feel really strongly about being your English coach for these weeks and helping you with this, I have a live, interactive workshop coming up just for you. 

It will help you follow up with emails and know exactly what to say. So be sure you’re subscribed to the newsletter so that you get your invitation to my next workshop.

It’s free and it will save you a lot of time and stress when you write emails in English.

What you’ll learn in this article:

1. Top tips from your English coach: share your expertise.
2. Top tips from your English coach: ask for what you want.
3. Top tips from your English coach: your call to action.
4. QUIZ YOURSELF (and see the entire pitch in the answers)

1. Top tips from your English coach: share your expertise.

In our last blog post and video lesson you learned that you need an elevator pitch so you can show your competence, strengths, and skills.

And because you can use it in many important business English situations–which makes it really valuable.  Of course, native speakers prepare elevator pitches to start their business conversations. Because they know it means those conversations will be more successful.

If you watched the first video in this lesson, you also know that you’ll start your elevator pitch with an introduction like this:

“Hi, I’m Christina. It’s so nice to meet you.”

Then say what you do, like this:

“I’m a human resources manager specializing in recruiting diverse teams for IT companies.”

As your English coach, this is when I tell you to share your expertise.

In other words, you’re going to talk about the value you bring to the situation.

You can talk about your experience, how many years you’ve been in the business, a recent achievement, innovation, or education.

It can be scary to talk about your skills, your achievements, and your experience.  It’s not easy.  And for some of us it can feel a little strange–it may not be something you do in your culture! That’s why it’s really important to plan what we’re going to say ahead of time–and practice.

What to say to share your expertise:

If you work for a company (or as a consultant for several companies, you could say something like this:
“I’ve been a human resources manager for over 7 years. And I’ve recruited entire teams for small and growing companies.”

If you run your own small business that provides a service to other businesses, you might talk about a recent project:

“Our company specializes in helping businesses with their public relations. We just finished helping E-Corp create a community outreach program and a PR campaign to promote it.”

Maybe you’ve got a great idea to help a company you already work for–and want to show how you (or your department) has the expertise to carry out your big idea:

“My team and I have been working on new and innovative medical equipment that is small enough to move from lab to lab. We’ve just completed our latest design for our biggest client.”

Take a minute to think about what you ‘bring to the table’ (what value you bring with you). Be ready to explain why you’d be a great addition to the team, why you are the right person to lead a new project. Or why your company is the right one to help another company fix it’s problem.

Then you’re ready to move onto the next step when pitching yourself…or your idea.

2. Top tips from your English coach: Ask for what you want.

Now it’s time to ask for what you want. Of course, that will depend on your situation. I’m going to try to be the best possible English coach I can for you without actually meeting you in person!

So I’ll give you several ideas you can use depending on your situation.  If you’re not sure which of these works the best for you–or you don’t see your specific situation here, you may want to find an English coach to help you with this business skill.

But many of the people I work with could use one of these:

If you’re looking for a position in a company, you might say:

“I find the work Amazingcorp does to be inspiring and I’d love the chance to put my experience to work for your company.”

Or, if you’re at a networking event and would love to be connected with someone who can help you find a position, you might say:

“I’m really inspired by the work Amazingcorp does. Would you be able to put me in touch with someone on the human resources team?”

If you’re a small business owner or consultant offering a service to another business you could say,

“I’m really inspired by the work Amazingcorp does. My team and I would love to help you create the kind of public relations campaign that will allow your business to grow.”

Don’t miss the next live, interactive workshop with your English coach–me!

If you want to be sure you catch the rest of the lessons in this English coaching series to improve your English at work AND get an invite to my next live interactive workshop, be sure to sign up for my newsletter here.

3. Top tips from your English coach: Your call to action.

Here’s a secret from your English coach: Your pitch–whatever your asking for or promoting–will be more successful if you do one thing. Give the person you’re speaking with something specific to do. A call to action.  

Here are some examples of calls to action (written for you by an English coach!)

If you’ve made a great new contact at a networking event, and would like to follow up so they don’t forget you or so they can remember what you’ve discussed you might say,

“It was nice talking to you. And I’ll send you a quick follow-up email later today about a contact at AmazingCorp.”

Perhaps you’ve been talking to someone about how you’re business can help theirs. You could end your conversation like this:

“It was nice talking to you. I’d love to send you some details about how we could help your company.”

If you’ve just shared a great new idea to help a company where you already work you could say:

“Could we meet in the next few weeks to discuss how this new project could work for our company–and maybe set up a timeline for our work?”

Well, this is the exciting part. You’ve been through the entire series on how to improve your English at work fast.  You’ve learned to focus on one (important) thing at a time–something you can fix easily that will have a huge impact. Now you’ve put that into practice and you’ve learned everything you need to pitch your ideas. One step at a time!

Time to take the quiz and see if you can take an entire pitch…and put it together. Ready?

Don’t miss the next live, interactive workshop with your English coach–me!

If you want to be sure you catch the rest of the lessons in this English coaching series to improve your English at work. AND get an invite to my next live interactive workshop, be sure to sign up for my newsletter here.

4. Take the next step for your English and your Business:
QUIZ YOURSELF ON TODAY’S LESSON: Recreate the pitch!

So what does an entire pitch sound like? Here’s an example…you just have to put these 4 sentences in the right order to find the pitch! Ready?

A) I’m really inspired with the work Amazingcorp does. My team and I would love to help you create the kind of public relations campaign that will allow your business to grow.

B) Hello, I’m Christina Rebuffet, It’s such a pleasure to meet you. 

C) We just finished helping E-Corp create a community outreach program and a PR campaign to promote it.

D) I’m a marketing consultant at PR Associates, which specializes in helping businesses with their public relations. 

Improve your English in the comments:

The best way to become more confident using Business English is to practice!

Here’s your Confidence Challenge for this week:

1. What value do you bring? What expertise, experience, or education do you have? Tell us about it in the comments. 
   
   

Further reading for your business English

Curious to learn more about the topic of the day? I’ve selected this excellent resource for you. It helps native speakers be better at business–by having an elevator pitch ready. And it’ll help you too!

Forbes: The Importance Of The Elevator Pitch

Don’t miss my next free, interactive workshop.

You’re serious about improving your English and your business skills. And I’m serious about helping you do that. That’s why I hold workshops every month on business skills you need. Want your exclusive monthly invitation? It’s easy. Just sign up for my newsletter.