That little word?
“Should.”

It sounds supportive.
But it often carries hidden judgement.

“You should take that job.”
“You should be more confident.”
“I should have done better.”

When we say should, we imply there’s a single right answer — 
seen through our lens, not theirs.

But people are different.
So are their lives, needs and limits.

Here’s an example:

Your colleague isn’t sure about taking on a new project.

If you say:
❌ “You should definitely take it.”
It might feel like pressure.

Instead, try:
✅ “It could be a great chance to grow, if it feels right for you.”

Now you’re offering encouragement, not instruction.
You’re supporting without pushing.

When we drop the should, something opens up.

We give people room to think, decide and grow — on their own terms.

Words make worlds.
Let’s choose ones that give power, not guilt.

👉 Have you caught yourself using should lately?

His slides said: “Operational Optimisation Synergies.”
The room said… nothing.

Six faces. Zero clarity.

That night, Markus looked at his old emails.
Long. Passive. Full of words no one really says.
He wasn’t writing to connect. He was writing to impress.

Next meeting?
He had short slides. He used clear words.
“Here’s how we save money.”

His colleagues got it.
No confusion. No fluff.

Because in global teams, plain English wins. Every time.

Stop impressing. Start connecting.

Blame this one little word: but.

Words carry weight.
And some — like but — can quietly undo what came before them.

Let’s look at this:

🗣 “I like your idea, but I think we need to do more research.”

What do you really hear?
Probably not the praise.
The word “but” makes it sound like the first part doesn’t matter.

Now try this:

🗣 “I like your idea, and I think we need to do more research.”

Both thoughts feel valid.
You feel heard and encouraged.

💡 Swapping but for and is a small shift with big impact.
Especially when giving feedback, offering suggestions or disagreeing gently.

Of course, there’s still a time and place for but.
But (see what I did there?) — try “and” next time.

You might be surprised how much easier it is to connect, not correct.

👉 Have you tried this? Did it change how people responded?

Try this trick most people overlook.

Dictionaries are helpful, until they aren’t.

Sometimes the word you need just isn’t there. Or the translation feels too stiff. Too vague. Too… wrong.

Here’s a trick I often share with my clients:
👉 Use bilingual websites.

For example, the company Neuland has a full website in both German and English.

So if you want to translate words like:

• Bewertungspunkte
• Lochverstärker
• Pastellkreiden

You’ll find:

• Marking dots
• Reinforcement stickers
• Chalk pastels

Real words. Used in context. No guesswork.

This works especially well for tools, products and industry-specific terms.

So before you reinvent the wheel…
Check if someone else has already translated it for you. 😉

👉 Have you ever found the perfect translation on a bilingual site?

If your mother tongue is German, English pronunciation can be tricky.

Not because you’re “bad at languages,” but because some sounds simply don’t exist in German.

A few examples:

• “th” in “this” or “think”
• w vs v confusion
• Extra endings like “ed” in “worked”

These tiny details can make a big difference — especially in meetings, interviews or presentations.

💬 The good news?
You don’t need a perfect British or American accent.
But you do need clarity.

This guide from Pronunciation Studio lists 10 common English pronunciation errors German speakers often make:
👉 [Link to article]

I’ve seen every one of these show up in my coaching sessions. And I’ve seen clients grow more confident once they hear the difference and practise gently, step by step.

If you speak German and want to sound clearer in English, this is a great place to start.

💡 Which of these do you find tricky?