Vos coachs Heart n Brain partagent leurs tips, bonnes pratiques et exemples d'expériences pour vous aider à améliorer votre pratique de l'anglais professionnel !

As a leader, you might have to face difficult situations. 



Whether you must find a collective solution to an issue, face an overreacting co-worker or handle difficult truth-telling conversations (share a negative feedback or deliver bad news), here are some tips to react appropriately.



Be a solution finder, not a problem solver


Problem solvers fix things that do not work (analyze the problem, fix it, ensure it is solved). 



- Co-worker: “I can’t do this task for Monday, I just got too much on my plate right now!” 

- Problem solver: “Well, ask Tim to do it, I think he is available.”
 
… Problem fixed (maybe not for Tim…)

Though it is nice to fix problems, if you find a quick fix to any issue, you become an expert in what’s wrong and you prevent people from becoming autonomous.



Solution finders focus on the objective, define and co-design possible solutions to achieve it, scale the most suitable solution and follow-up.



- Co-worker: “I can’t do this task for Monday, I just got too much on my plate right now!”
 
- Solution finder: “

What was the objective of this task? What do you want to achieve?

” 

- C-w: “I need to review customers’ feedback so that we can adapt the after-sales strategy.” 

- Sf: “I think Suzan already made that kind of analysis. You can contact her to ask for details and organize a meeting with the 3 of us on Monday so that we define next steps.

The next level is encouraging your co-workers to come to you with objectives asking for ideas and not with problems asking for a quick fix!



Handle difficult truth-telling conversations


When you have something difficult to say to someone…



Be direct, factual and take responsibility

Even though it might seem harsh, always start a difficult conversation with ensuring everyone is on the same page. 

"

We are here because I want to express my concerns about…

The purpose of this meeting is to share the negative impacts of the crisis on our budget.

You are delivering this message because it is your duty to do so. Do not blame someone else: "I have been asked to tell you" and use the "I" instead of the we (so that it is easier to have a discussion).



Use facts not interpretations, avoid commonplaces and rumors. 

Try "

Our sales have been dropping by more than 10% since last February

" instead of "I heard you are having a hard time…" and "

I received two client's complaints last month

" rather than "I have been told that some clients are unhappy with…"

Manage your emotions and acknowledge the impact on your interlocutor

Avoid unneeded apologies not to look guilty or uncertain. 
 Instead of "I am sorry but I will have to…" use "

I know it is hard to hear but I must share with you…

" 

Be empathetic and listen carefully. Even if you disagree, you can still understand how he/she feels.

Ensure you and your interlocutor are on the same page “

"
 
If possible, finish on a positive note "

If during a conversation your interlocutor overreacts and is no longer able to discuss in a constructive way, you must first unravel the conflict and step back from the objective.

I think we should set this subject aside for a minute. I see/I’m hearing that you are experiencing a hard time here.

”
 
Create a safe environment where it is ok to talk about a side subject, even if it is sensitive. 
"

Do you want to share this concern with me? What can I do to help you?

Propose a collective solution to the conflict and suggest to go back to the previous conversation

I suggest we discuss it with… next week over a meeting… what do you think? 

If we are fine about this matter, can we go back to …

Regardless of the matter, ensure the exchange remains respectful.

Clearly define and remind what can be accepted and what cannot. When a line is crossed, stop or postpone the conversation.



Want to feel more confident behaving like a leader even in English? 

As a leader, you might have to face difficult situations. Whether you must find a collective solution to an issue, face an overreacting...

REACT LIKE A LEADER

react-like-a-leader

Today, we share 4 simple tips to feel more comfortable dealing with awkward situations!


What to say where you're not sure the person remembers you?

Tip #1: Help the person by giving her/him a quick reminder of who you are 


What to say when you're not sure you've understood?

Tip #2: Honestly admit it but specify your question


What to say when you have nothing to say?

What to say when you don't know how to conclude?

Tip #4: Ask simple and specific questions, that would help plan future encounters.



4 simple tips to feel more comfortable dealing with awkward situations.

How to manage awkward situations

how-to-manage-awkward-situations

Steering can be defined as the action to move or to guide in a particular direction. 



Once the objective has been set and the appropriate posture defined, the challenge is to keep the leader mindset all along the way, being with a team, when speaking or as a personal perspective.



· Create the adequate conditions and resources for people to reach the objective set and don't just "delegate" tasks.

Take the example of how you would teach a child to run a bicycle. Before letting ride it by himself, you would make sure that the place where he rides is safe and that the equipment he's wearing is adapted (and that he likes its color!). Plus, you will provide him with the advice and the encouragement he needs.

· Before taking any decision, understand how it can affect others around the table.
 
· Adapt your commitment to what is expected from you.

For example, if you are the expert on a topic, you’d be likely to lead the meeting and make any final decisions. However, other situations may call for a less active role.

Reward and recognize, based on a fair system of values

· Don't just reward results but efforts made towards them "I value the efforts and energy you've put into your mission". 

· Accept what can't be changed (people's inherent values or emotional intelligence) and help improve what can be (know-how, specific skills required to perform a task).
 
· Understand what people are good at and support their initiatives in this area.
 
· While each person‘s precise task will vary, expect all your team members to be committed to completing the job.

· Speak in order of your priorities, to show what matters most within your organization.

For example, speak about people before growth or financial results.



· Be concise and let individuals know clearly what role you want them to play in the conversation.

"I'd like each team member to share her/his ideas to ease collaborative work in order to help us reach our objective".

· Instead of “but,” favor “and,” “however,” “yet,” “except,” or “that said.”



to foster your creativity, to help you take decisions, to generally help you think wider.

Regular self-assessment not only keeps you on track, it also provides great guiding principles in your leadership duties. 

You can for example assess yourself through these examples of questions: 

· Do you take responsibility when things go wrong, and turn the spotlight on the people around you in good times? 

· Do you delegate tasks that should be yours, or do everything yourself and delegate nothing? 

· Are you a constant example to your subordinates and peers in terms of your demeanor, character and attitude? 

· Have you done all in your power to drive people to do their best? 

· Do you allow people to take risks, make mistakes and learn from them or are you quick to blame? 

Some of the answers might surprise you and help you reconsider your leadership actions towards continuous self-improvement.

Simon Sinek, various videos on leadership 
 
To Sound Like a Leader, Think About What You Say, and How and When You Say It, 

by Rebecca Shambaugh, October 31, 2017 (HBR review)
 
6 Ways To Talk Like a Leader, by Brian Evje, 2013, Inc.

Steering can be defined as the action to move or to guide in a particular direction. Here are tips to help you keep your leadership mindset.

Steer like a leader

steer-like-a-leader

The question today is: how to be efficient during conference calls?


Conference calls can be difficult to manage: technical issues, confusion between speakers, people not fully attentive 
5 simple tips are shared in this video: 
1. Start with a chit-chat, with an open (but not too vague) question 
2. Ask the participants to join 5 minutes before the meeting starts 
3. One person should give the floor to the participants, after they've stated their name 
4. The leader can have the person in trouble send his opinion or answer by email 
5. Send the presentation beforehand by email

To discover more Heart n Brain tips and experiences: 
https://www.heart-n-brain.com/

Conference calls can be difficult to manage: technical issues, confusion between speakers, people not fully attentive. 5 simple tips shared!

5 tips to be more efficient during conference calls

5-tips-to-be-more-efficient-during-conference-calls

Listening to the news, you must be absolutely astonished by the huge amount of incredibly stressful words they are using (journalistic writing). 

Let’s try to (stay positive and) do it with our current daily routine!

1. The number of meals I can actually prepare without pasta is 

(extremely surprising, impressive) 
However, pizza is massively favored in the polls, and cooking brussels sprouts

(can cause great and sometimes unfriendly disagreement within a group of people)

effort to adapt to the situation. (very great, intense) 
I really think I reached a

in the way I handle both my kids and my personal activity… (time during a process when an important decision is made or when a situation changes completely)

3. According to observers, French people are 

their stay-at-home anxiety with a gigantic amount of puzzles… (to control something that is not wanted) 
 …and with drinking wine

Listening to the news, you must be absolutely astonished by the huge amount of incredibly stressful words they are using (journalistic...

Let’s describe our lockdown routine as if we were journalists

lets-describe-our-lockdown-routine-as-if-we-were-journalists

The easiest way to define a leader is “any person who influences people to achieve a goal”.



With this definition, everyone might be a leader even if he/she is not CEO of a major company: leading a project, conducting a taskforce, animating a meeting… Being a leader is a mindset, not a job.


Here is an overview of tips and useful tools to be considered as a leader and therefore be efficient at driving people toward the achievement of an objective.



As in any relationship, the key is to adopt an = / = posture: you respect and trust each other and give your best effort to reach a common goal.



The first important point in adopting an =/= posture lies in considering everyone’s time and energy as valuable as yours: 

do your fair share of the work, no more, no less.

You can also practice talking like a leader with the following tips:



• If you tend to feel inferior to your interlocutor, try to be grateful more than shameful.

“Thank you for your patience” instead of “Sorry it took me so long"

“Nice catch! That will help me improve” instead of “Oh! My bad, I am so sorry for this mistake”.

• On the contrary, if you have a natural tendency to be superior to your interlocutor, passive voice might help you to sound less bossy.

“You must do this by the end of the week” 

“This task must be completed by the end of the week to secure our project. Can you handle it?”

• In any case, be authentic and foster authenticity.

Express your point of view using verbs such as 

 “I trust”, “I believe”, “I am convinced” 

Do not equivocate when speaking about an important topic. 
Be parsimonious in your use of superlative

“tremendous”, “amazing”, “epic fail” 

… use simple and clear language to define the situation precisely. 
Avoid using words such as

Align every action to a purpose. Ensure you highlight the expectation behind every task, mission, meeting. 
For example, start all your meetings with the objective.

“It is important that everyone shares…”

“At the end of this meeting, I would like us to agree on… and that we define next steps” 

“After this exchange it is important that you are able to share with your team…”



Display confidence in the achievement of these goals.



• Use the future perfect to talk about what you are committed to accomplish 

“By the end of the year, we will have saved up $10,000”.

• Express your firm emotional commitment 


“I’m determined to …” and be positive “I’m really looking forward to us launching this new product by the end of January”.

Express decisions underlining how they support your common goal.



“This solution is the only one that guarantees a minimum impact on customer satisfaction, which is our most important KPI”. 

3. Support people so they can be part of your success


• Ask open-ended questions and practice active listening by restating what your interlocutor has mentioned (insist on what seems important).




• Make sure you are not distracted and give all of your attention to the person who is speaking to you. 


Encourage people to bring solutions, not problems.



• Make it safe to suggest ideas (even ineffective ones).



• Ask for facts “We need one more person working full time on the project to ensure we deliver by next Monday” not opinions “It is impossible to secure the deadline”.


“We need one more person working full time on the project to ensure we deliver by next Monday” not opinions “It is impossible to secure the deadline”.

Understand what is valuable to them and give the recognition coherently



• “I really appreciate your time and dedication”, “You did a perfect job with this task, you should share it with the steering committee”…

Want to feel more confident behaving like a leader even in English?  

The easiest way to define a leader is “any person who influences people to achieve a goal”. With this definition, everyone might be a...

Behave like a leader (even in English)

behave-like-a-leader-(even-in-english)

The question today is: how to handle an objection, a negative reaction or comment?  



An objection is always an opportunity to convince your audience, don't be afraid of it and use it positively!  



Through our video, we share 4 very simple and efficient tips: 
1. RECEIVE 
2. ACKNOWLEDGE 
3. UNDERSTAND 
4. CO-BUILD

The question today is: how to handle an objection, a negative reaction or comment? An objection is always an opportunity to convince your...

4 simple and efficient tips to handle objections

4-simple-and-efficient-tips-to-handle-objections

The adjectives are normally used in a particular order:



Let’s now practice ordering these adjectives!



Poor dog is wearing a … … … … skirt. [tulle / laughable / pink / tiny]

They bought an … … … … … chair. [yellow / ugly / 3-in-1 / plastic / small]



The adjectives are normally used in a particular order in English. Will you be able to place them in the appropriate order?

How to place adjectives in the appropriate order?

how-to-place-adjectives-in-the-appropriate-order

Smoking, baskets, parking, pressing,... Did you know they meant something else in English?



"I'm going to write your amazing ideas on this paperboard!"

"Im going to write your amazing ideas on this 

"I'm sorry, I can't make it, I have a very busy planning." 

"I'm sorry, I can't make it, I have a very busy 

Smoking, baskets, parking, pressing,... Did you know they meant something else in English? Let's see some more examples!

Forget about these false friends!

forget-about-these-false-friends

Si vous vous êtes déjà préparé pour une épreuve sportive, vous connaissez sans doute cette sensation. Vous êtes prêt, entraîné, vous avez le bon équipement, vous savez ce que vous avez à faire.


A mesure que le départ approche, le stress monte. Mais vous l’aimez bien ce stress, c’est peut-être même lui qui va vous permettre de vous surpasser, de « faire une perf’ ».</r>


Imaginez maintenant que le matin du grand jour vous ne mettiez plus la main sur vos chaussures fétiches, celles que vous avez utilisées pendant votre entrainement. 
Pour vous présenter sur la ligne de départ, il ne vous reste qu’une option, cette vieille paire de running, celle avec laquelle vous courriez il y a plusieurs années.</r>



Le stress se transforme en angoisse. Plus question de chercher une performance. Et si vous n’étiez pas en mesure de finir cette épreuve ? Et si vous vous blessiez ? 

Vous partez moins confiant et dès le premier kilomètre vous vous sentez moins bon, le reste de la course est une souffrance. Vous aviez pourtant la préparation physique… mais le mental ne suit plus.</r>


Prenons à présent une situation professionnelle. Une présentation devant un client important, un pitch investisseur, une démonstration devant une centaine de futurs utilisateurs... Vous êtes prêt, un peu stressé mais vous l'aimez bien ce stress... 

Imaginez maintenant que le matin du grand jour : « ça ne vous ennuie pas si on le fait en anglais ? ». Le stress se transforme en angoisse. La suite vous la connaissez.

Chez Heart n Brain nous avons une conviction : l'anglais ne doit jamais vous empêcher d’être votre better-self. 
Devenir anglofan c'est aller chercher la performance, en anglais comme en français, en étant toujours à l'aise... dans ses baskets !

Si vous vous êtes déjà préparé pour une épreuve sportive, vous connaissez sans doute cette sensation. Vous êtes prêt, entraîné, vous avez...

Restez dans la course !

restez-dans-la-course

Pour vous détendre un peu, pour aborder l'anglais avec plus de sérénité, pour ne plus penser que nous les frogs on est des billes en anglais... Quelques idées reçues qui vont vous mettre "in a good mood"!



"Il faut que je devienne bilingue pour causer avec des natives !"


96% des discussions impliquent un non-natif anglophone. 

Seul 1/4 de la planète maîtrise parfaitement la langue anglaise.

Ça fait un paquet de pas bilingues qui causent anglais, non ?



"L'anglais n'est pas aussi riche que le français !"


L'anglais compterait 2 à 4 fois plus de mots que le français.



Et comme un individu s'exprime avec en moyenne les mêmes 500 mots... 

A moins d'être Shakespeare.

"J'ai l'air ridicule avec mon accent de frog ! 



L'accent français est considéré comme le 5ème accent le plus sexy au monde ! (cocorico)



Pour vous détendre un peu, pour aborder l'anglais avec plus de sérénité, pour ne plus penser que nous les frogs on est des billes en...

Révélateur d'anglofans
Coaching en anglais professionnel