The easiest success measurement tool is a simple question. What did you do today to move forward?

The easiest project plan on earth is also a simple question. What will you do tomorrow to move forward?

At the end of each day, document your success and design your next move.

Rich DiGirolamo

Here are some possible answers to the two questions, with a focus on learning English:

1. What did you do today to improve or progress?

“Today, I listened to a podcast in English and watched a short YouTube video—and wrote down new words and phrases that I discovered.”

2. What will you do tomorrow to improve or progress?

“Tomorrow, I plan to spend some time reading a news article in English and practise vocabulary by reviewing my flashcards and doing some online exercises.” 

Doesn’t that sound good?

Of course, I have lots of other examples of activities that you might like do to boost your language skills.

You can:

• watch English-language films or TV shows,
• listen to music in English,
• attend one of our free Speed Networking sessions,
• join my Chilipeper Your English community, or even
• work with me on a 1:1 basis!

Whatever you choose, the key is to find activities that are enjoyable and engaging.

My fingers fly over my Mac’s keyboard like a hummingbird flitting from flower to flower.

But if you find it difficult or tiring to type, you might like to use the magic of speech recognition. And generate written text by speaking into a microphone.

Go over to Dictation.io (best using Google Chrome). Choose your language and start dictating.

There’s no need to register, log in, download or install anything.

Just check that you know the voice commands beforehand.

Or can you recommend a different site?

We often use icebreakers at the beginning of our online meetings, workshops or other group events to help our participants feel more relaxed, connected and engaged.

We want to help our people get to know each other, break (or rather melt) the ice—and create a friendly and comfortable atmosphere in the group.

But where can we find great questions to ask?

You’ll find lots of ideas here:

https://icebreaker.range.co

https://tscheck.in

https://checkinsuccess.com/question-archive

https://hypercontext.com/meeting-questions-bot

https://checkin.daresay.io

https://questionsgenerator.com

Tell me, where do you get inspiration for your questions?

„Because“ is a magic word if you want to get people to do something.

Imagine this

You’re lining up in front of a photocopier waiting to make copies.

A person approaches and asks:

Excuse me. I have 5 pages. May I use the photocopier?

A bit later a second person appears and asks:

Excuse me. I have 5 pages. May I use the photocopier because I’m in a rush?

And then a third person arrives and asks:

Excuse me. I have 5 pages. May I use the photocopier because I have to make copies?

Would you let anyone jump the queue. If so, which person?

The experiment

Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer ran this experiment with her team in the 1970s.

And the results?

They were quite surprising:

• 60% of the people let the first person skip the line.

• 94% of the people let the second person skip the line.

• 93% of the people let the third person skip the line.

Yes, this sounds rather crazy, doesn’t it?

So what does all this mean for you?

The lesson here is that people are more likely to agree to something if they understand why it’s being asked.

Giving a reason (almost any reason!) can be a good way to persuade people to do something.

That’s the power of that little word „because“.

Now over to you

Perhaps you’d like to add this word to a request, a statement or a call to action and see what happens?

And don’t forget to tell me if it works for you, too.

—————-

to jump the queue – die Warteschlange überspringen, sich vordrängen

Kevin de Bruyne appreciates the value of multiple perspectives:

I ask why so many European footballers seem better educated than their British counterparts. Perhaps the difference is languages, he says. “There are a lot of people from different countries who speak two or three languages, where English players usually only speak English. I come from a country where by 13 you are studying Dutch, French and English.” With languages, perhaps comes wisdom and humility – an ability to put yourself in the shoes of others, a knowledge that your way is not the only way. He smiles. The Belgian way was never going to be the only way, he says.

I also believe learning new languages can give us a better understanding of different cultures and ways of thinking—and make us more open-minded and empathetic.

On top of that, it can help us become more humble and appreciate the value of other perspectives.

By the way, if you’re interested in learning more about the Belgian footballer Kevin de Bruyne, you might like to read this interview in The Guardian.

———–

humility – Demut

Most people are surprised to hear that we don’t say anything.

Of course, after having lived in Germany for so many years, I have to say something (and, of course, it can’t do any harm).

So what might I say?

I might say something like :

• “I hope you have a nice meal!”,
• “I hope you enjoy your food!”,
• “I hope you enjoy what you’re eating!” or simply
• “Enjoy!”

It’s also quite acceptable to wish someone “Bon appetit”—one of the many French phrases adopted by the English language.

And if you want to know what good table manners are, watch etiquette expert William Hanson explain them to Gino and Mel on ITV television. (And see how I was taught to eat my peas!)