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When you step into the world of entrepreneurialism, it’s natural to spend the majority of your time focussing on the day-to-day tasks required to get your business off to a flying start. Financial planning, strategy, marketing, social media, product design…the list goes on.

But as you clear those first hurdles, begin to put processes in place, take on your first employees and inch towards feeling a bit more established, it’s time to step back and look at the bigger picture.

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Prince Harry used to be the naughty prince, the nation’s younger brother, who was known more for his passion for partying than for typically Royal behaviour. 

And yet after some hair raising times in his twenties, he has stepped confidently into his role, using his position to give a voice to many who have been sidelined, disenfranchised or forgotten. He has done so with responsibility, grace, good will and a gentle determination, which reminds many of his mother. So what can we learn from his communication style?

The English language is a peculiar beast. In what other language would you pronounce 'law', 'caught', 'sure', and 'poor' with the same vowel sound? Or pronounce all these words with different sounding 'o' sounds? ‘Stop', 'hope', 'London', 'now’?

I am willing to bet that when you’re tasked with giving a presentation at work, the first thing you do is load up PowerPoint on your computer. However, by presenting yourself with a blank canvas that you feel compelled to fill, you are giving yourself further hurdles to jump before you even know what it is you’re going to say!

At LSW, we know that giving presentations can be some people's worst nightmare. We also know that many of you will have sat through boring presentations, wishing for the moment you see that final slide - 'Any Questions?' - and know that it's over.

Your English is Already Great

Before we begin, it’s important to establish something really important: your English is great.

I mean it.

You are speaking a language that is not your mother tongue, and functioning very well. On a day-to-day basis you’re ordering food, getting from A to B, socializing and forging friendships. So, before we go any further, pat yourself on the back for your achievements. Functioning in a second language is more than many people will ever achieve. Well done.

Every New Year, people around the world make resolutions; sweeping statements promising big changes that are, realistically, unlikely to happen and set the resolution-maker up for disappointment. So, instead of the usual grandiose commitments to quit chocolate; start working out, etc., why not take a different tack, and try making some simple changes to how you communicate? As we embark on the first few days of 2018 why not make this the year you take positive, achievable, steps towards more honest, authentic, communication?

In the second of this two-part blog post, we continue to share top tips for those of you in leadership roles who are looking to communicate more effectively with your team. In our previous post, we looked at how clarity and confidence can have an enormous impact on how you communicate with your team. Here, we share the final three tips, which deal with how structure and preparation will ensure you get your message acrsoss. 

When you have gone high enough up the ranks to have a team of people working underneath you, you might think you should already have basic aspects of leadership, like communication, in the bag. And yet, a lack of effective communication among management is probably one of the biggest reasons for low performance, poor results, and people not getting along or enjoying their work. And, as we all know, finding a manager who is an excellent, effective communicator is rare! It is so important as a leader that the message you give is clear, both in your non-verbal messaging, positioning yourself as a leader, and also in your verbal. But regardless of how good we should be, the reality is that most people would benefit from some guidance to improve their efficiency as a leader.

The fear of speaking publicly, or Glossophobia, affects three out of every four people. But what is it about speaking in front of others that is so frightening for us? How does an everyday thing, such as speaking, become a challenge?