After having worked with thousands of clients across the globe I’ve found that the main reasons why clients come to me to seek career advice are limited to a handful: poor relationships with people around them that matter; inability to communicate with confidence; and making their intentions clear to those around them, including their boss, so that they know what to expect when it is time for a change (promotion, pay raise, more responsibilities, etc.). Of course, there are other reasons why people come to me seeking career guidance but, in comparison, they are not as frequent or as intense.

It may not surprise many reading this blog if I told them that although most of my time in my coaching practice goes in client meetings guiding them through their needs and challenges, I spend an equal amount of time—sometimes even more—coaching them how to present themselves well with the right message (interview coaching) or writing or re-writing what they plan to say and how to say that better and with more impact. I spend a good amount time when doing client work writing or editing their cover letters, résumés, polishing their performance reviews, and even their important emails. If they all had better communication skills my time would be spent differently in how I practice my trade.

So, when it comes to communication, although clients approach me to improve their career/life I find them struggling with their abilities to express themselves in English. This is also true for those who are born and raised in the US. Although many speak and communicate well orally, their written skills, vocabulary, and understanding of US idioms is often in need of help.

Depending on your English proficiency you can decide which of the following resources are appropriate for your ongoing growth in how you express yourself. In almost all cases I find that a client’s ability to communicate well in English is a fundamental skill that can hold them back despite their proficiency in their own technical area of work. So, heed this need with the attention that it deserves. It is one of the most underrated skills in one’s professional development.

I           Words and their usage

These resources send you a daily email with a new word, its usage, and etymology, etc.

1. Merriam-Webster Dictionaries: merriam-webster.com will email you a word every day for free. It also offers a paid on-line dictionary for an annual fee.
2. Wordsmith is run by Anu Garg and is also a free email service that sends new words every day. This is a great resource for a variety of reasons. wordsmith.org
3. Oxford University Press: Oxford Dictionaries Online provides free email service with daily words and their usage. Contact odo_us@OUP.COM It also offers subscription services
4. There are many online dictionaries available for free. Just Google your interest, (e.g., Dictionary of Urban Slang) and find what you are looking for.

II         English Writing

1. The best resource for improving your writing skills is provided by the Purdue University through its Online Writing Lab (OWL). https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ This rich resource offers a variety of avenues for you to improve your verbal skills through online exercises that allow you to visit different areas of your need: Grammar, Composition, Word usage, Pitfalls, etc.
2. Harvard U. has a free resource, especially for essay writing: writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu
3. Many resources can also be found through Google and other searches.
4. If you want to improve your written English make a habit of writing something every day.
5. Writing That Works, 3E: How to Communicate Effectively in Business (Roman & Raphaelson)

III        Speech

1. Several YouTube resources are available to improve your speaking abilities in both the US and British English. Rachel’s English is a channel that has many exercises and content (US)
2. Anglolink (By Minu) this is a UK-based version of English
3. There are many other providers of this content on YouTube.
4. There are also many excellent TED talks on communication, presentations, and body language. Watch them again and again and practice some of the tips offered in those talks.
5. Accent reduction is an important part of developing your speech. People from certain regions (even born and raised in certain parts of the US) bring their own accent to their speech and are in need of changing their speech patterns to be able to communicate better. Thick accents often get in the way of easy communication. Although you do not have to speak like a native speaker ready to audition for a TV anchor role, clear and easy-to-understand speech is invaluable in everyday business communication, especially on the phone and when the other party is not in front of your face. There are many resources available on YouTube, LinkedIn, and on Google search.

IV        Public Speaking/Leadership Communication

The best resource for improve your public speaking skills is the Toastmasters International. There are local chapters in every city, organization, and company. So, find a local chapter and sign-up. https://www.toastmasters.org/ Although not entirely free, it is almost free.

If you decide to take on improving your overall communication skills these resources and their diligent use can help you advance your career in ways that you cannot imagine. I hope that you take my advice to heart and equip yourself with better communication skills, both in your career and in your life.

Good luck!