If you find yourself muttering “Um, sorry...” when your colleague makes a mistake, you get interrupted or you need to give a command – your language may be undermining you at work.
And it’s not just apologising. According to Google executive Ellen Leanse, saying “just” as a permission also sounds less authoritative – as does saying “I think” before an opinion, which makes you sound uncertain.
Doing well is all about how you talk. Research shows that people who are better communicators are more likely to enjoy professional success. So what’s the best way to improve your communication skills?
“Charisma [at work] is not about you – it’s about other people,” says communications coach Robin Kermode. “It’s all about making other people feel special. Making people feel valued is not rocket science. It’s just about asking questions and showing you listen to their replies.”
If you want to improve your communication skills at work, join us on Wednesday 20 July from 1pm-2.30pm BST for a live chat with the experts. We’ll be discussing:
- Tips on communicating well at work.
- Ways to build confidence and charisma.
- How to project authority at work.
The Q&A will take place in the comments section below this article. Taking part is easier than ever: to comment create a free Guardian account or log in using your Twitter or Facebook profiles. Alternatively, tweet us @GuardianCareers or email your questions to charlotte.seager@theguardian.com, who will post them for you.
Panel
Harriet Minter is a journalist, speaker and women in leadership advocate. In 2013 she founded the Women in Leadership section of the Guardian, and speaks regularly on how women can communicate more effectively at work.
Richard Newman is the director of Body Talk. Newman specialises in training people to speak effectively – and his advice has been featured on BBC Radio, Sky TV and Forbes magazine. He also created one of the largest studies on the influence of communication, which was recently published in the Journal of Psychology.
Catriona Clancy trained as an actress at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Based on the belief that acting skills are life skills, she has worked as a communications coach for 12 years, delivering tailored training to professionals from companies as diverse as: The BFI, Lazards, McGraw Hill, Credit Suisse, and Fidelity. She has also been guest speaker at ISES Powerhour Seminars and co-led business workshops for HealthTech UK.
Karen Glossop is the founder of Resonance Training, coaching people in communication and presentation skills. She is an associate tutor on leadership programmes at London Business School, Cass Business School and Said Business School. Glossop also has a career in the theatre as co-artistic director of Wishbone.
Bonnie Marcus is an award-winning entrepreneur and contributing writer to Forbes and Business Insider. As the President of Women’s Success Coaching, she assists professional women to successfully position themselves to advance their careers.
Dr Michelle Reina is co-founder of Reina, a global firm specialising in transforming workplaces through trust. Reina has been researching trust for 25 years and works with organisations like to achieve measurable improvements in collaboration and teamwork, employee engagement, leadership effectiveness and workplace culture.
Jo Ellen Grzyb is a founding partner of Impact Factory, a communications training consultancy. Grzyb is also a counsellor, psychotherapist and author. She appears regularly in the media and most recently in the programme Behaving Ourselves: Mitchell on Manners on BBC Radio 4.
Victoria McLean, CV writer and interview coach, is the founder of CityCV.co.uk. She is a former recruitment manager at Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch, and helps coach people on speaking effectively and progressing at work.
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