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English Podcast for Daily Life English | How to Speak Better at Work | Learn English Conversation — Transcript

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0:00EnglishLeap Podcast
0:02>> from Speak English with Class. [music]
0:05>> Jake, have you ever seen someone at work
0:07who's actually really good, but somehow
0:10nobody notices them?
0:12>> Oof, yes. The quiet hero in the corner.
0:16Great work, clean reports, always on
0:18time, and still somehow invisible.
0:21>> Invisible,
0:23that's the word. And honestly, I think a
0:25lot of English learners know this
0:27feeling. They work hard, they understand
0:30their job, they have good ideas, but
0:32when the meeting starts, their English
0:34suddenly hides.
0:36>> Their English puts on a tiny coat and
0:38leaves the room.
0:40>> Poor English. But yes, that feeling is
0:43real. And if you've ever felt invisible
0:46at work because your English didn't
0:48carry your ideas clearly, this episode
0:51is for you. Hey, hey, English learners,
0:53welcome back to the EnglishLeap Podcast,
0:56your cozy little place to learn easy
0:59English through real everyday
1:00conversations. I'm Anna.
1:02>> And I'm Jake, and today's episode is a
1:04B1 to B2 English podcast for daily life
1:08English, especially for learners who
1:10want better workplace English
1:12conversation.
1:13>> Today, we're talking about how to speak
1:15better at work. Not perfect English, not
1:18robotic business English, real English
1:21speaking practice for meetings,
1:23teamwork, feedback, and those tiny
1:26office moments where you want to sound
1:27clear and confident.
1:29>> And we'll take simple workplace
1:31sentences, the kind many learners
1:33already use, and make them sound more
1:35natural, more professional, and more
1:38confident.
1:39>> Because sometimes, the problem is not
1:41your idea. The idea is good. The problem
1:44is that the sentence carrying the idea
1:46is a little tired.
1:49>> Like it walked up five flights of stairs
1:51before entering the meeting.
1:53>> [laughter]
1:53>> Right. So, we're going to give those
1:56sentences better shoes.
1:57>> And before we jump in, if this kind of
1:59workplace English conversation helps
2:02you, leave us a like and subscribe to
2:04the English Leap Podcast. It really
2:07helps us keep making these daily life
2:09English episodes for you. Okay, Anna,
2:12that opening already feels very real
2:15because some people are excellent at
2:16their job, but still don't know how to
2:19make their value visible.
2:21>> That's where I want to start. You can be
2:23good at your job and still not be seen.
2:26>> Yeah, and that feels unfair, doesn't it?
2:29>> It does. Imagine someone named Sarah.
2:33Sarah finishes her tasks on time. She
2:35helps people quietly. She writes good
2:37reports. She checks details. She does
2:39everything properly.
2:41>> But in meetings?
2:43>> In meetings, she says almost nothing.
2:45She thinks, "My work will speak for
2:47itself."
2:48>> Ah, that sentence, "My work will speak
2:51for itself." It sounds nice, but at
2:54work, sometimes your work needs a little
2:56microphone.
2:58>> [laughter]
2:58>> Yes, your work may be excellent, but
3:01people are busy. They may not notice
3:03every detail unless you also communicate
3:06what you're doing, what you're thinking,
3:08and where you can add value.
3:10>> So, the basic sentence might be, "I do
3:13my work."
3:14>> And that sentence is not wrong. It's
3:16just very small.
3:18>> Very small, like a tiny office sandwich.
3:22>> Tiny office sandwich, right. A stronger
3:24sentence would be, "I want to be more
3:27proactive and share my ideas when they
3:29can add value."
3:31>> That word, proactive, is doing a lot of
3:33work there.
3:34>> It is. Proactive means you don't just
3:37wait for someone to tell you every step.
3:40You notice something, you think ahead,
3:42and you take action in a helpful way.
3:45>> So, proactive is not loud. It doesn't
3:47mean you interrupt everyone.
3:49>> No, not at all. It means you show up
3:52before the problem becomes a fire.
3:55>> Before the office is burning and
3:56everyone is holding coffee like, "Hmm,
3:59something feels warm."
4:01>> [laughter]
4:01>> That's the idea. So, instead of only
4:03saying I do my work, you can say, "I
4:06want to be more proactive and share my
4:08ideas when they can add value."
4:10>> Let's try that in a real workplace
4:12moment. I'll be the employee who wants
4:15to become more visible.
4:16>> And I'll be the manager. Go ahead.
4:19>> I've been thinking about the project and
4:21I want to be more proactive going
4:23forward. If I notice something that
4:25could help the team, I'd like to share
4:27it earlier.
4:28>> I appreciate that. What kind of ideas
4:30have you been thinking about?
4:32>> I noticed we often wait until the end of
4:34the week to discuss problems. Maybe we
4:36could have a short mid-week check-in so
4:39small issues don't become bigger later.
4:41>> Nice. That sounds helpful, not pushy.
4:44>> And that's the key. Being proactive is
4:47not saying, "Look at me, I'm amazing."
4:49It's saying, "I'm paying attention and I
4:51want to help."
4:53>> That sentence alone can change how
4:55people see you at work.
4:56>> Okay, but here's the next fear. Some
4:59learners may think, "Fine, I'll speak
5:01more." But then they talk too fast, too
5:04much, and the idea gets lost.
5:06>> Ah, yes, the meeting marathon.
5:09>> A person starts with one small point and
5:1212 minutes later we're in a completely
5:14different country.
5:15>> [laughter]
5:16>> We've all been in that meeting.
5:18But speaking better at work is not about
5:20speaking more. It's about speaking
5:23clearly.
5:24>> So, the basic sentence here is, "I want
5:26to say my idea."
5:28>> Again, not wrong, but it sounds a little
5:31weak, like the idea standing outside the
5:33meeting room asking, "Can I come in?"
5:36>> Poor idea.
5:38>> A better sentence is, "I want to
5:40articulate my idea clearly."
5:43>> Articulate. That's a beautiful word, but
5:45some learners may feel it's a big word.
5:48>> It sounds big, but the meaning is
5:50friendly. To articulate means to express
5:53your thoughts clearly in a way people
5:55can understand.
5:56>> So, if I articulate my idea, I don't
5:59just throw words everywhere.
6:01>> No word confetti.
6:03>> No word confetti. I organize my thought
6:06and say it clearly.
6:08>> Right. And here's the important part.
6:10Articulate does not mean perfect. You
6:14can make small grammar mistakes and
6:16still be articulate if your message is
6:18clear.
6:19>> I love that because a lot of learners
6:21wait for perfect English before they
6:23speak.
6:24>> And if you wait for perfect English, you
6:26may stay silent for years.
6:28>> Let's show this. You're in a meeting,
6:31people are discussing a problem. You
6:33have an idea, but you need a second to
6:35organize it.
6:36>> Okay, I'll try it.
6:38>> Go ahead.
6:39>> I'd like to take a moment to articulate
6:41my idea clearly. I think the issue is
6:43not the deadline itself, but the number
6:46of approvals before the deadline.
6:48>> That's interesting. So, you're saying
6:50the delay is coming from the approval
6:52process.
6:53>> Yes, if we reduce one approval step, we
6:56may be able to finish on time.
6:58>> See? Clear, calm, easy to follow.
7:01>> And I didn't need a long speech, just a
7:04clear sentence.
7:05>> Also, you sounded like you had slept
7:07well even if you didn't.
7:09>> That is the real workplace dream.
7:11>> Now, let's talk about one of the
7:13scariest moments for English learners at
7:15work, when someone explains something
7:18and you do not understand.
7:21>> Ah, that moment. Your face is smiling,
7:24but inside you're like, "I have left the
7:26planet."
7:27>> Yes, and everyone else is nodding, so
7:30you start nodding, too.
7:31>> The international workplace nod. It
7:34means I hope someone sends notes later.
7:37>> Very accurate. But seriously, this is
7:40It's
7:40Many learners feel embarrassed when they
7:43don't understand something.
7:44>> They think asking a question makes them
7:47look weak.
7:48>> But actually, asking a clear question
7:50can make you look focused. It shows you
7:52care enough to understand properly.
7:55>> So, the basic sentences, I don't
7:57understand.
7:58>> Honest, but a little too direct
8:00sometimes.
8:01>> Right. At work, we can soften it and
8:04make it smoother. You can say, "Could
8:07you clarify that for me?"
8:09>> Clarify. This is one of those words that
8:11instantly makes you sound more
8:13professional.
8:14>> Yes. Clarify means to make something
8:17clearer. So, instead of saying, "I'm
8:19lost," you're saying, "Can we make this
8:22point clearer?"
8:23>> That feels much better. It keeps the
8:25conversation calm.
8:26>> Another great sentence is, "I'm not sure
8:29I follow. Could you clarify the main
8:31point?"
8:32>> I love "I'm not sure I follow." It
8:34sounds polite, but also very human.
8:36Like, I was with you and then I fell off
8:39the bus.
8:40>> That's it. Let's act this out. You
8:43explain something in full office
8:45language.
8:45>> Oh, I can do office language. Ready?
8:48>> Ready.
8:48>> So, we need to align the internal
8:50timeline with the client-facing
8:52expectations before we revisit the
8:55delivery framework and finalize the
8:57post-launch communication strategy.
9:00>> I'm sorry, Jake. I want to make sure I
9:02understood that correctly. I'm not sure
9:04I follow the part about the timeline.
9:06Could you clarify the main point?
9:08>> Of course. Basically, we need to finish
9:11the internal plan first, then decide how
9:14we'll update the client after launch.
9:16>> Ah, that makes sense. Thank you for
9:18clarifying.
9:19>> Beautiful. Nobody panicked. Nobody
9:22disappeared under the table.
9:24>> And honestly, other people in the
9:26meeting may be grateful because they
9:28didn't understand, either.
9:30>> That happens a lot. One brave question
9:32saves the whole room.
9:34>> I love that. One brave question saves
9:37the whole room.
9:39>> Okay, now we're getting into a harder
9:41area, giving opinions at work.
9:44>> Yes, because opinions are dangerous
9:46little animals.
9:48>> Dangerous little animals?
9:49>> Yes, if you hold them too tightly, they
9:52bite. If you throw them across the room,
9:54they scare people.
9:55>> That is strangely accurate.
9:57>> Many learners either say nothing because
10:00they don't want to sound rude, or they
10:02say something too direct, like, I think
10:04this is not good.
10:05>> And that sentence is understandable, but
10:07it can feel harsh.
10:09>> Especially if someone worked hard on the
10:11idea.
10:12>> So, what's the better version?
10:14>> From my perspective, this approach may
10:17need some adjustment.
10:18>> That sounds so much softer and stronger
10:20at the same time.
10:21>> Yes, because from my perspective means
10:25this is how I see it. You're not
10:27attacking the other person, you're
10:29sharing your view.
10:30>> Perspective means your way of seeing or
10:33understanding something.
10:34>> Right. And this approach may need some
10:37adjustment is much better than this is
10:39not good.
10:40>> Because this is not good lands on the
10:42table like a brick.
10:44>> A very heavy brick.
10:46>> But may need some adjustment sounds like
10:48we can improve this.
10:50>> Let's do a scene. I'll present a plan
10:52and you disagree professionally.
10:54>> Okay, I'll be careful with the dangerous
10:56animal.
10:56>> So, I think we should launch the
10:58campaign next Monday. It gives us enough
11:01time and we can fix any small issues
11:04later.
11:04>> I see why that could work. From my
11:07perspective though, the timeline may
11:09need some adjustment. If we launch next
11:12Monday, the design team may not have
11:14enough time to review everything
11:15properly.
11:16>> That's a fair point. What would you
11:18suggest?
11:19>> Maybe we could move the launch to
11:20Wednesday and use Monday and Tuesday for
11:23final checks.
11:24>> See, that sounded confident but not
11:26rude.
11:27>> And I didn't say bad idea, Anna.
11:29>> Thank you for not destroying my campaign
11:31in public.
11:33>> I try to be a decent colleague.
11:35>> This is why perspective is such a useful
11:37word. It gives you space to speak
11:40honestly without sounding like you're
11:41attacking someone.
11:43>> Now, let's stay with that idea because
11:44many learners also struggle with
11:46confidence. They don't want to be rude,
11:48so they become too soft.
11:50>> Yes, they start every sentence with
11:53"Sorry, maybe, I don't know, maybe it's
11:56just me, but possibly
11:58>> By the time they reach the opinion, the
12:00meeting is over.
12:02>> And their idea is tired.
12:03>> But I get it. In a second language, you
12:06don't always know how strong your words
12:08sound. So, many learners choose very
12:11soft language to stay safe.
12:13>> And being polite is good, but if you are
12:15too soft, people may not understand your
12:17real point.
12:18>> That's where the word assertive helps.
12:21>> Assertive. This is a strong one.
12:24>> Assertive means confident and clear, but
12:27still respectful. You're not aggressive,
12:30you're not passive, you're in the
12:31middle.
12:32>> So, aggressive is "No, you are wrong."
12:36>> Passive is "Oh, never mind, my idea is
12:38probably silly. Let's forget I spoke."
12:40>> And assertive is?
12:42>> I see your point, but I have a different
12:44perspective.
12:45>> That one is so useful.
12:47>> Or a slightly stronger version, "I want
12:50to be assertive here, but respectful. I
12:52see your point and I'd like to offer
12:54another view."
12:55>> I like that because it names the
12:57intention. You're saying "I'm not trying
13:00to fight, I'm trying to be clear."
13:02>> Yes, and sometimes that helps,
13:04especially in a serious discussion.
13:06>> Can we do the three versions? Rude, too
13:09soft, and assertive?
13:10>> I was hoping you would ask.
13:12>> Okay, we're discussing a proposal. I
13:14say, "I think we should reduce the
13:17budget for this part of the project."
13:18>> Rude version. "No, that's a bad idea. We
13:22shouldn't do that."
13:23>> Ouch, my project feelings are hurt.
13:26>> Too soft version. Um, maybe, I don't
13:30know, maybe we could possibly think
13:31about something else, but only if
13:33everyone wants, and sorry.
13:36>> [laughter]
13:36>> That sentence brought its own blanket
13:38and hid under the desk.
13:40>> Assertive version. I see your point, but
13:43I have a different perspective. If we
13:45reduce the budget there, we may affect
13:47the quality of the final result.
13:50>> That is the one. Clear, respectful, and
13:53useful.
13:54>> And notice something. Assertive people
13:56don't need to sound angry. They sound
13:59steady.
14:00>> Steady, that's a lovely word for it.
14:02>> They don't push people down, they bring
14:04their idea forward.
14:06>> That is workplace English at its best.
14:09>> Okay, now let's go back to proactive,
14:11because I think there's another side of
14:13it.
14:13>> Yes. Earlier we talked about being
14:16proactive, so your ideas are seen, but
14:18now let's talk about being proactive
14:20when there is a problem.
14:22>> Ah, the moment when everyone sees the
14:24problem, but everyone quietly hopes
14:26someone else will speak first.
14:29>> The group silence.
14:30>> Very loud silence.
14:32>> In many workplaces, there's a big
14:35difference between someone who says,
14:37"Tell me what to do." and someone who
14:39says, "I'll take a proactive approach
14:41and prepare a few options."
14:43>> That second person sounds like they are
14:44already thinking ahead.
14:46>> Right. "Tell me what to do." is not
14:48terrible, but it sounds passive. It puts
14:51all the thinking on the manager.
14:53>> But, "I'll take a proactive approach and
14:55prepare a few options." says, "I see the
14:58problem and I'm ready to help."
15:00>> Let's make this real. Imagine the team
15:03has a deadline on Friday, but by
15:05Wednesday, it's clear they might not
15:07finish.
15:08>> Ah, the Wednesday panic, a classic.
15:11>> Very classic. The passive version is,
15:14"Tell me what to do."
15:16>> The better version is, "I'll take a
15:18proactive approach and prepare a few
15:20options."
15:20>> Let's act it out.
15:22>> I'll be the team member, you be the
15:23manager.
15:24>> Okay.
15:25>> I noticed the deadline may be at risk
15:27because we're still waiting for the
15:28final data. I'll take a proactive
15:31approach and prepare a few options. One
15:33option is to send a shorter version on
15:35Friday, another is to move the full
15:37report to Monday. Would you like me to
15:40walk you through both?
15:41>> Yes, please. That would be very helpful.
15:43>> That sounds like someone who is not just
15:45reporting a problem. They're helping
15:47solve it.
15:48>> And that is powerful at work. You don't
15:51need to have the final answer every
15:52time, but if you can bring options,
15:54people trust you more.
15:56>> I like that. Bring options, not just
15:58panic.
15:59>> Although sometimes we bring both.
16:01>> True. Options in one hand, panic in the
16:04other.
16:05>> Very human. But the sentence still
16:07helps. I'll take a proactive approach
16:10and prepare a few options.
16:11>> That's a sentence learners can use in
16:13meetings, emails, even performance
16:16reviews.
16:16>> Yes, it shows maturity.
16:19>> Okay, last workplace situation, and this
16:21one is delicate.
16:23>> Giving feedback.
16:24>> Giving feedback.
16:26>> The tiny office earthquake.
16:29>> It really can feel like that because
16:31feedback can help people improve, but if
16:33you say it badly, it can make people
16:35defensive.
16:36>> And many learners know what they want to
16:39say, but they worry it will sound too
16:41harsh.
16:42>> The basic sentence is this is wrong.
16:46>> Very clear, very short, very dangerous.
16:50>> It has no cushion.
16:52>> A better sentence is
16:54can I offer some constructive feedback?
16:57>> Constructive. That word is important.
17:00>> Constructive means helpful and focused
17:03on improvement. You are not just
17:05criticizing. You are trying to build
17:08something better.
17:09>> I like the connection there.
17:10Constructive, construct, build.
17:14>> Yes. Constructive feedback is feedback
17:17that builds, not feedback that breaks.
17:20>> That's a nice way to remember it.
17:22>> And you can also say, "I have a
17:24constructive suggestion that might help
17:27improve this."
17:28>> That sounds gentle. You're not saying,
17:30"You made a mistake." You're saying,
17:32"Here's something that could help."
17:34>> Right. Let's do one last scene. I'll
17:37give feedback on your work.
17:38>> Be kind. I worked very hard on my
17:41imaginary report.
17:43>> I will be kind.
17:44>> Okay. Go ahead.
17:46>> First, I really like the structure of
17:48this report. The information is clear.
17:51Can I offer some constructive feedback
17:53on the opening section?
17:55>> Of course. Go ahead.
17:57>> I think the main point could appear a
17:59little earlier. If we put the key result
18:02in the first paragraph, the reader will
18:04understand the message faster.
18:06>> That makes sense. So, not this is wrong,
18:08but here is how we can make it stronger.
18:11>> Yes. And notice that the feedback
18:13includes a reason. It's not just
18:16criticism. It gives direction.
18:18>> That's what makes it constructive.
18:21>> And nobody had to cry in the break room.
18:24>> A successful office moment.
18:26>> So, today we looked at something really
18:29important. Speaking better at work is
18:31not about becoming a different person.
18:34>> It's not about suddenly becoming the
18:36loudest person in the room.
18:38>> It's about choosing sentences that help
18:40your real value become visible.
18:43>> If you work hard, but stay completely
18:45silent, people may miss your ideas.
18:48>> If you speak, but your ideas are
18:50unclear, people may not understand your
18:52value.
18:53>> But when you can say, "I want to be more
18:55proactive. I want to articulate my idea
18:58clearly. Could you clarify that for me?
19:01From my perspective, I want to be
19:03assertive, but respectful. And can I
19:05offer constructive feedback?" Your
19:07English starts working with you.
19:09>> Not against you.
19:11>> And remember, you don't need perfect
19:13English to sound professional. You need
19:15clear English, calm English, and useful
19:18sentences you can trust.
19:20>> Yes, because your ideas deserve good
19:23sentences.
19:24>> Put that on an office mug.
19:27>> Honestly, I would buy it.
19:29>> Same.
19:30>> And now, let's slow down and practice
19:32some of today's strongest workplace
19:34words together, so you can really
19:36remember them and use them in your own
19:38conversations.
19:39>> Let's start with proactive. This is a
19:42powerful word for work, but also for
19:44life.
19:45>> Yes, proactive means you take action
19:48early. You do not just wait for someone
19:50to tell you what to do.
19:51>> Say it slowly with us. Proactive.
19:54>> Proactive.
19:56>> The easiest sentence is, I want to be
19:58more proactive.
20:00>> That means I want to take action
20:02earlier. I want to think ahead.
20:04>> At work, you can say, I want to be more
20:06proactive in meetings.
20:08>> Or, I'll take a proactive approach and
20:11prepare a few options.
20:13>> Anna, can I say, I am proactive person?
20:16>> Almost. Say, I am a proactive person. We
20:21need a before proactive person.
20:23>> Ah, good correction. I am a proactive
20:26person.
20:27>> Very natural. You can also say, she is
20:30very proactive. That means she does not
20:33wait quietly, she notices what needs to
20:35be done.
20:36>> So, instead of saying, tell me what to
20:38do, I can say, I'll take a proactive
20:40approach.
20:41>> Yes, that sounds much more mature and
20:44professional.
20:45>> Let's make it real.
20:46>> The deadline might be delayed. What
20:48should we do?
20:49>> I'll take a proactive approach and
20:51prepare two possible options.
20:53>> Perfect. That sounds helpful, not
20:55passive.
20:56>> So, instead of saying, tell me what to
20:58do, say, I'll take a proactive approach.
21:01>> And instead of saying, I want to speak
21:04more, say, I want to be more proactive
21:07in meetings. Our next word is
21:09articulate. This word is perfect when
21:12you want to speak clearly.
21:14>> Yes, articulate means to express your
21:16thoughts clearly, so people can
21:18understand your idea.
21:20>> Say it slowly with us. Articulate.
21:24>> Articulate.
21:26>> The easiest sentence is, I want to
21:29articulate
21:30my idea clearly.
21:33>> That sounds much better than I want to
21:35say my idea.
21:36>> Yes, say my idea is understandable, but
21:41articulate my idea clearly sounds more
21:44professional.
21:45>> Can I say she is very articulate?
21:48>> Yes, that is a very natural sentence.
21:51She is very articulate means she
21:54explains things clearly and confidently.
21:57>> So, articulate can be a verb and also
22:00describe a person.
22:02>> Right. You can say, I want to articulate
22:06my thoughts. That is the verb. And you
22:08can say, he is articulate. That
22:11describes the person.
22:12>> Nice. So, if someone speaks clearly in a
22:15meeting, I can say, he is very
22:18articulate.
22:19>> Yes, very natural.
22:21>> Let's make it a mini conversation.
22:23>> You had a good idea in the meeting, but
22:25you looked nervous. What happened?
22:27>> I had the idea, but I couldn't
22:30articulate it clearly.
22:31>> That happens. Maybe next time write one
22:34simple sentence before the meeting.
22:36>> Good advice.
22:37>> So, instead of saying, I cannot say my
22:41idea, say, I'm struggling to articulate
22:45my idea.
22:46>> And instead of saying, she speaks very
22:48clearly, you can say, she is very
22:50articulate. Our third word is clarify.
22:54This is one of the most useful words for
22:56meetings.
22:57>> Yes, clarify means to make something
23:00clearer.
23:01>> Clarify.
23:02>> Clarify.
23:04>> A natural sentence is, "Could you
23:06clarify that for me?"
23:08>> This is much smoother than saying, "I
23:10don't understand."
23:11>> You can also say, "Could you clarify the
23:14main point?"
23:15>> Or, "I'm not sure I follow. Could you
23:18clarify that?"
23:19>> Anna, what about the noun? Is it
23:20clarification?
23:22>> Yes, clarification is the noun. You can
23:25say, "Thank you for the clarification."
23:28>> So, after someone explains something, I
23:30can say, "Thanks for the clarification."
23:33>> Very natural. You can also say, "I need
23:36a little clarification on this point."
23:39>> That sounds professional.
23:40>> It does. And remember, asking for
23:43clarification does not make you look
23:45weak. It shows you want to understand
23:47properly.
23:48>> Let's make it real.
23:50>> We need to revise the internal process
23:53before we update the external team.
23:56>> I'm not sure I follow. Could you clarify
23:59the main point?
24:00>> Sure. We need to fix our internal steps
24:03first. Then, we can update the other
24:06team.
24:07>> Thank you for the clarification.
24:09>> So, instead of saying, "I don't
24:11understand," say, "Could you clarify
24:13that for me?"
24:14>> And after someone explains, say, "Thank
24:17you for the clarification."
24:19>> Our fourth word is perspective. This is
24:22a beautiful word for sharing opinions
24:24politely.
24:25>> Yes, perspective means your way of
24:28seeing or understanding something.
24:30>> Say it slowly with us. Perspective.
24:35>> Perspective.
24:37>> The most useful phrase is, "From my
24:40perspective."
24:41>> Like, "From my perspective, this
24:43approach may need some adjustment."
24:45>> Yes, that sounds much better than "I
24:48think this is not good."
24:50>> So, "From my perspective" makes the
24:52sentence softer.
24:53>> Yes, it shows that you are sharing your
24:56view, not attacking the other person.
24:59>> That is useful at work because sometimes
25:02you need to disagree, but you still want
25:04to keep the relationship respectful.
25:06>> Right. You can also say, "I understand
25:09your perspective."
25:11>> That means, "I understand how you see
25:13it."
25:14>> Yes. And you can say, "That's an
25:16interesting perspective."
25:17>> Nice. That sounds polite even if I don't
25:20fully agree.
25:21>> Let's try a mini conversation.
25:24>> I think we should launch the project
25:26tomorrow.
25:27>> I understand your perspective. From my
25:29perspective, though, we may need one
25:32more day for testing.
25:34>> That sounds respectful. You didn't say,
25:36"Bad idea."
25:38>> [laughter]
25:39>> No opinion bricks today.
25:41>> So, instead of saying, "I think this is
25:43not good," say, "From my perspective,
25:46this approach may need some adjustment."
25:49>> And instead of saying, "I understand
25:50your opinion," you can say, "I
25:52understand your perspective."
25:54>> Our fifth word is assertive. This one is
25:58very important for confidence.
26:00>> Yes. Assertive means confident and
26:04clear, but still respectful.
26:06>> Say it slowly with us. Assertive.
26:09>> Assertive.
26:10>> The easiest sentence is, "I want to be
26:12more assertive."
26:14>> That does not mean, "I want to be rude."
26:16>> Right. Assertive is not aggressive.
26:20>> And it is not passive, either. It is the
26:22middle path.
26:23>> The office Goldilocks sentence. Not too
26:26hard, not too soft, just right.
26:29>> [laughter]
26:30>> I still like that. You can say, "She is
26:33assertive, but respectful."
26:35>> Or, "I'm trying to be more assertive in
26:37meetings."
26:38>> What about the noun?
26:40>> Assertiveness?
26:41>> Yes. Assertiveness. You can say, "I'm
26:44working on my assertiveness."
26:46>> That sounds useful for interviews, too.
26:48>> Very useful. If someone asks about
26:51communication, you can say, "I'm working
26:53on becoming more assertive and clear."
26:56>> Let's make it real.
26:57>> I think we should reduce the budget for
26:59this part.
26:59>> I see your point, but I have a different
27:01perspective. If we reduce the budget
27:04there, we may affect the quality.
27:06>> That sounded assertive, calm, but clear.
27:10>> So, instead of saying, "No, I don't
27:12agree," say, "I see your point, but I
27:15have a different perspective."
27:16>> And instead of saying, "I need to speak
27:19more strongly," say, "I want to be more
27:22assertive." And our final word is
27:24constructive. This is the word you need
27:27when giving feedback.
27:28>> Yes, constructive means helpful and
27:31focused on improvement.
27:33>> Say it slowly with us. Constructive.
27:36>> Constructive.
27:37>> The most common phrase is constructive
27:40feedback.
27:41>> Like, "Can I offer some constructive
27:43feedback?"
27:44>> That sounds much better than, "This is
27:46wrong."
27:46>> Yes, "This is wrong" closes the door.
27:50"Can I offer some constructive
27:51feedback?" opens it carefully.
27:54>> Beautifully said. Constructive feedback
27:56is feedback that builds, not feedback
27:59that breaks.
28:00>> Not a hammer, more like a tiny, polite
28:03screwdriver.
28:04>> [laughter]
28:05>> Yes, a tiny, polite screwdriver.
28:08>> Can we use constructive with suggestion?
28:11>> Yes, you can say, "I have a constructive
28:13suggestion."
28:14>> Like, "I have a constructive suggestion
28:16that might help improve this."
28:18>> Very natural.
28:19>> Let's make it a mini conversation.
28:21>> I can see you put a lot of effort into
28:23this report. Can I offer some
28:25constructive feedback on the opening
28:26section?
28:27>> Of course, go ahead.
28:29>> I think the main result could appear
28:31earlier. That would help the reader
28:32understand the message faster.
28:34>> That makes sense. Thank you.
28:36>> So, instead of saying, "This is wrong,"
28:38say, "Can I offer some constructive
28:41feedback?"
28:41>> And instead of saying, "I have one
28:43comment," say, "I I a constructive
28:46suggestion."
28:47>> Beautiful. And that wraps up our word
28:50tour for today.
28:51>> So, today's six workplace words are
28:53proactive, articulate, clarify,
28:57perspective, assertive, and
29:00constructive.
29:02>> And now we've reached the end of today's
29:04episode.
29:05>> Remember, speaking better at work is not
29:07about perfect English. It's about clear,
29:10calm, and useful English.
29:12>> Your ideas matter, and with the right
29:14sentences, people can hear them more
29:16clearly.
29:17>> If this episode helped you, please like,
29:19subscribe, and write one sentence in the
29:21comments using today's workplace words.
29:24>> Take care of your English.
29:26>> And take care of your confidence.
29:27>> This is Anna.
29:28>> And this is Jake.
29:30>> And you have been listening to the
29:31English Leap podcast. Bye.
29:37Your progress doesn't end here.
29:39To continue [music] advancing your
29:41English skills, click on the next video
29:43or explore the additional videos we've
29:44carefully [music] selected for you.

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