The Challenge
I was a speech consultant for a company that made life-saving medical devices. Like many American
companies, they employed a lot of foreign-born scientists. They asked me to help some of their best
employees improve their spoken English.
One of the people I coached was Adam (not his real name). He was the director of product development
for this company.
I liked Adam immediately. He was a good guy and easy to work with. He was also an extremely smart and
talented person.
Adam soon told me about his biggest English problem. He often had to lead important staff meetings and
always felt a lot of stress when he did. That made it much harder for him to speak English clearly and
confidently in his meetings.
So Adam and I discussed how he conducted these meetings. Then I had him practice a different way of
leading a group. He said he would try this new approach at his very next meeting.
The next time I met with Adam, he was happy and excited. He said his English was now much better in his
meetings. He also said that they were more successful and that he actually enjoyed leading them more.
What transformed Adam’s English and made his work better and more satisfying?
The Solution
Adam no longer just sat at the table during these meetings. He got up and moved around the room. He
used his whole body when he spoke. He used good body language when he explained things. He used good body language whenever he listened and responded to other people.
Adam said that doing this changed everything. It not only greatly improved his English but also made him
feel more relaxed and confident.
He said it also changed how the other people in the meeting acted as well. They felt more relaxed and
freer to express themselves.
The Takeaway
I am not suggesting you should get up and walk around in a meeting! Adam could do this because he was
the leader.
I am telling you about Adam to show you how he quickly transformed his English speech and became a
better leader, simply by using this most important communication skill.
You can easily achieve what Adam did. You can instantly become better in your job. You can be more
relaxed and confident in your work. You can also make people around you feel more relaxed and
comfortable.
How? Simply by doing what Adam did: by speaking English with your whole body and by using good body
language at all times.
And the good news is: You already have this basic communication skill! You only have to start using it
whenever you speak English.
It is the easiest and quickest way to improve all of your English speech and communication skills.
Now you try it.
Stand in front of a large mirror that shows your whole body.
Think of an English sentence with some feeling in it. Example: “I think I’m going to be late for work.”
Say it out loud four times:
- With no body language.
- With huge body language.
- With tiny body language.
- With natural body language.
Observe how using good body language:
- Makes your voice louder and your speech clearer.
- Helps you communicate your thoughts and feelings better.
- Helps you be more relaxed and comfortable when speaking.
- Is the easiest way to instantly improve your English speech.
