You mean well, so you say, “You should try this.” Or, “You should speak up.“

The problem is that “should” can sound like advice. Even with good intentions, it can sound like you’re telling someone what they ought to do.

A small change makes a big difference.

Instead of “You should try this”, say, “You might find this helpful” or “This worked well for me.“

Instead of “You should say something”, try, “If it feels right, you could say something.”

You still offer the idea. You just leave the other person room to take it or leave it.

Next time you’re about to say “should“, see if “might” or “could” fits instead. It often makes the conversation feel lighter.

💬 What’s your favourite way to replace “should“?

Picture a meeting.

A German, Brazilian, Korean, Finn. None grew up speaking English. The call runs in English anyway.

Someone says, “Sorry, my English isn’t very good.”

Good by what standard? No one in the room is the judge. They’re all speaking the same thing. Plain, shared, get-it-done English. The kind that works when no two people learnt it the same way.

That’s what international business English is. Not a weaker version of someone else’s language. Its own language, built for exactly this room.

So you’re not falling short of “real” English. You’re already using the English that works everywhere.

Next time you want to apologise, try, “Let me put that simply.” Same warmth, no apology.

💬 Ever caught yourself apologising for English no one was judging?

After years of working with executives, founders, consultants and specialists, I’ve noticed something delightful. No matter how senior or experienced someone is, certain English‑communication behaviours appear again and again.

So today – purely for fun – here’s a tiny typology of the characters we might meet in real business conversations.

The Silent Nodder

• The vibe: Nods enthusiastically in every meeting, especially when the discussion gets fast.
• The reality: Understands about 40% but has perfected the international gesture for “Please don’t ask me to jump in.”

The Perfectionist Pauser

• The vibe: “I would like to… um… add… one… point…”
• The reality: Translating a beautifully structured sentence from their native language, searching for the perfect nuance while everyone waits politely. 

The Apologetic Expert

• The vibe: “My English is terrible, sorry.”
• The reality: Delivers a clear, elegant, ten-minute explanation of a complex business topic using vocabulary most native speakers avoid.

The Google-Translate Gambler

• The vibe: Uses words like “behoves” and “henceforth” in a casual project update.
• The reality: Copy-pasted from a translation app. Zero comprehension. Full confidence.

The Accent Metamorph

• The vibe: British on Monday, Australian on Wednesday, American by Friday.
• The reality: Their pronunciation depends entirely on last night’s Netflix choice.

The Idiom Enthusiast

• The vibe: “Let’s bite the bullet and hit the sack – it’s raining cats and dogs out there!”
• The reality: Found an idiom list and is determined to use all of them immediately, context optional.

The “Yes” Trap Survivor

•  The vibe: Manager: “Any questions?” Professional: “Yes.”
• The reality: They meant “Yes, all clear.” Now everyone is waiting for a question that doesn’t exist. Internal chaos begins.

If you recognised yourself — or a colleague — in any of these, you’re in excellent company.

Even highly skilled professionals move through these phases on their way to calm, clear, confident English.

P.S. If you’ve met another ‘type’ in your international meetings, let me know. I’m always happy to expand the collection.

 

We’ve been connected for a while. Or maybe you’ve just found me. Either way, here’s a little about me.

I was born and grew up in England, but I’ve lived in Germany for more years than I care to admit. I took up square dancing about 2 years ago (and no, it’s not just for cowboys and cowgirls).

I help German-speaking entrepreneurs and executives speak English with confidence, without chasing “perfect”. I also mentor language trainers who want support in building their own work. And twice a month, I host free Speak Easy Sessions for business professionals who want a safe place to practise speaking.

Before running my own language training business, I worked as a Personal Assistant and Technical Translator. Those years taught me that plain, global English beats sounding flawless every time.

Outside work, you’ll usually find me reading about copywriting and marketing, making prints without a printing press or out walking with my poles or Smoveys (you may have to Google those). Or visiting one of my four children, spread around Germany and Austria.

Your turn now. Tell me one thing about yourself. What’s your favourite snack, your strangest hobby or your biggest English challenge?

 

A client said to me recently, “I’m worried they’ll notice my mistakes.”

I understand that feeling.

But here’s what I see again and again… The people listening to you aren’t focused on every tense or preposition.

They’re listening for your message.

They’re asking themselves, “Is this useful? Does this answer my question? What can I take away from it?“

When you spend all your energy monitoring your English, you have less left for the point you’re trying to make.

And that’s the part people remember.

(I still catch myself doing this in German more often than I’d like.)

Next time you speak, put your attention on being clear and not perfect.

💬 What would change if you trusted your message a little more than your grammar?

 

Good news about to, too and two. Out loud, you can never get them wrong. All three sound exactly the same.

The worry only turns up when you write. You finish a quick email, hover over one small word, and suddenly you’re not sure which one you meant.

So this was never a speaking problem. In a meeting, on a call, in the corridor, the difference simply isn’t there. Your ear hands the right one to the listener every time.

Which means you can stop carrying this into conversations. Keep the second glance for the page, where it actually belongs. (I still take that glance myself, by the way.)

Quick win: when you’re writing and unsure, remember that “too” has an extra “o” for its extra meaning, “also” or “very“. “Two too many” uses both. The plain little “to” quietly covers the rest.

💬 Which little word makes you pause before you hit send?