7 Tips to Upgrade your Business English Communication Skills

Are you ready for your Business-y future?

Your finals are finally over, you are one step closer to graduation and to the long-deserved celebration. Hearing about your future is probably not what you have in mind now, but it is never too soon to think about what comes next.
Family and friends keep telling you that your life will change exponentially and you can’t wait to put your studying experience to good use.
So there you are, sending CV after CV, wondering when you will find the job of your dreams.

Postgraduate life can be destabilising: you find yourself in a fighting pit, a working arena, full of freshly-graduated students trying to make their names known upstairs.
One way to stand out is to prove your working skills, obviously, but you also need to show that you know your way around words.
So, let me ask you: how are you communication skills doing?

Nowadays, as absurd as it might sound, communication skills are at the highest ranks, especially speaking and listening.
At the workplace, knowing a thing or two about Business English can play a big part in your success.

Developing new language skills in communication can be hard but there are several Business English courses that can lead you to mastering your abilities.
The best way to enhance your communication skills is to undertake an English course: good quality English courses with qualified English teachers can have several benefits over self-study. These can include setting personalised targets with a teaching professional, the opportunity to practise with a native-level speaker and getting regular correction and feedback.

As we all know, though, life can get in the way and you might not always have time to go to class, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! (What about Skype lessons?)

Here you’ll find 7 useful tips to help you improve your communication skills:

1. Read news and business-related articles
   For your learning process to be effective, you’ll need some context. Business-related media, from news apps to business blogs are an effective tool for the information to set permanently in your subconscious.
2. Watch documentaries
   Same as apps and blogs, documentaries are another way to apply some context to what you are your studying. Visual concept will help you get a grip on that tedious grammar rule!
3. Keep a journal with new words, phrases and idioms
   This might sound obsolete to the youngest amongst you but trust the Latins: Verba volant, scripta manent.
4. Have fun with your English!
   I’ve mentioned news and documentaries but if you are fond of TV shows and movies, use them! Learning a language through something you like and enjoy is just as effective as reading a textbook, if not more.
5. Body language and eye-contact
   Most business processes, from negotiating a contract to closing a sale, from customer support to employees’ management, are more complicated than just words. The way you present yourself drastically changes your appearance. Standing up, moving around, standing straight, slumping on a chair, eye-contact and staring are all indicators of your personality. Choose the right ones and you’ll succeed.
6. Make the first step: take initiative at your work meeting, provide your colleagues with the best presentations of your career!
7. Every-day practise: either at school with your teacher’s help or on your own while grabbing a coffee or on your bus ride, use your English as much as you can. And remember, don’t be shy!

Establishing a new conversation can be frightening and stressful but now you have a practical 7-stage strategy to help you find your way through Business English.

Remember not to limit yourself to developing just one or two skill areas at a time. The quickest way to improve is by targeting multiple communication skills at the same time: listening, speaking and reading.

Try one or two strategies each day and go from there. You don’t need to master all seven points at once, what’s important is to commit and work hard to achieve your goal.