“Carlos, how exactly can I better collect audience feedback to improve my English presentations at work?” This is one of the more common questions I’m asked by my clients. The issue is that many presenters (myself included in the past!) finish their talk, close their slides, and walk away thinking, “That went pretty well.” But here’s…
Here’s the hard truth: not everyone at work plays fair. Some people use pressure, aggression, manipulation, and or intimidation to get their way. They raise their voice, talk over you, or throw you off balance so you’ll back down and give them what they want – all under the disguise of “just being direct.” Countless…
When you network, one of the most important things to do is be strategic with your time and questions. One of the fastest ways to kill a conversation before it even starts is by asking sloppy questions. And yet, this is exactly what many people do. They default to the “safe” stuff: “So, nice weather…
We’ve all heard the advice: “Small talk is so important in business.” And that’s true—if you know how to use it properly. The problem? Many people don’t. They meet someone, start chatting, and then spend the next 30 minutes talking only about themselves, their career, their goals, their desires, and their life story. An exhausting,…
Here’s something I was reminded of recently while coaching a client working with global teams: Too many professionals believe that the key to strong communication in English is speaking with “advanced” or “fancy” vocabulary. They get too caught up in trying to “sound intelligent”, “appear professional”, and try too hard to impress others. They focus…
I know a lot of people who hate the idea of being associated with a salesperson. Some even have the feeling, for some reason, that sales is “beneath them”. But here’s the reality, whether you like it or not: If you’re speaking in public, you’re selling. Period. And no, I don’t mean you’re “selling a…
Everyone gets nervous before speaking. Yes, everyone—even the most seasoned leaders, negotiators, and public speakers. But here’s where most people go wrong: they treat nerves as the enemy. They try to push stress away, suppress it, or “relax” it away. That doesn’t work. In fact, trying to eliminate nerves completely at best can cause you…
Here’s the hard truth: One of the biggest reasons managers fail to run engaging meetings in English that actually drive results has nothing to do with their English, data, charts, or analysis. (In fact, managers and professionals often overload their discussions and meetings with way too much irrelevant data, charts, and boring information). The data…
Most people are terrified of silence in conversations—especially in negotiations. Just the mere thought of silence during a negotiation terrifies many of my clients. It’s something I used to struggle with too in the past when just starting off in my career. The second there’s a pause, they rush to fill it with words. Then,…
One of the biggest challenges many of my clients face isn’t their vocabulary or grammar — it’s how they deliver their message. You can have the best ideas in the room, and speak the best English with the fanciest words, but if you don’t speak with conviction, people won’t buy in. Conviction is what makes…