Delivering bad news is one of the most difficult parts of being a design or tech leader. 

When we deliver bad news we can receive backlash and you might have had some negative experiences in the past of when you have had to deliver some bad news. You might be the one delivering the bad news, but you aren’t necessarily responsible for it.

For many working in Design and Tech, challenging news is likely a very common occurrence. It might be that you are given a new deadline and have a lot less time than you had anticipated, you might have received news that there is going to be an impact in the scope of the project, or they have had to make budget cuts. It might mean that you have to lay off team members. 

In today’s episode I am sharing how you can deliver bad news in a professional and authentic way that builds trust and shows respect, as well as what to consider and what to avoid so you don’t make things worse.

Times to check out:

(02:50) Preparing for delivery

(04:40) Check in with yourself

(06:55) Timing

(08:23) Location

(13:17) Delivery

(18:30) Top tips

If you’d like to enhance your communication skills or language fluency in English let’s connect. Send me a direct message on LinkedIn and I’d be happy to help and share how I can further support you.

Recommended Episode: 

Communication Techniques to Build Better Professional Relationships

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-keeling-fluentspeakers15/

WHO AM I: I'm Gemma Keeling, Founder, and CEO at Fluent Speakers. With a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition from The University of Oxford, and an undergraduate degree in Spanish and Teaching English as a Second Language, I have extensive training and expertise in education. I have travelled extensively and worked in many different societies and cultures. I coach digital design and tech professionals to improve their communication skills in English.

🌍 My website/blog: https://fluentspeakers.co.uk

💌 GET IN TOUCH: If you are interested in working together or collaborating, send an email to gemma.keeling@fluentspeakers.co.uk

Good relationships with your colleagues, your managers, your clients and those around you can make all the difference in your career and overall work satisfaction. By having better relationships at work, it has been found that it makes you more productive, it improves your mood, and it can help you have better work life balance. It can be challenging to connect with others, and even more challenging when you work remotely.

In today’s episode I am sharing different communication techniques that you can use you build better rapport and enhance your professional relationships and how you can do this even when working remotely and with international teams and clients.

Times to check out:

(02:48) Your career growth and relationship building

(05:40) Why positivity matters 

(07:48) The most negative words to avoid

(10:22) Avoiding always and never

(12:46) Let's check in 

(13:53) Acknowledge their feelings

If you’d like to enhance your communication skills or language fluency in English let’s connect. Send me a direct message on LinkedIn and I’d be happy to help and share how I can further support you. 

Recommended Free Guide: 

40 Ways to Say No as a UX/UI Design and Tech Professional

FOLLOW >

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fluentspeakersltd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fluentspeakers

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-keeling-fluentspeakers15/

WHO AM I: I'm Gemma Keeling, Founder, and CEO at Fluent Speakers. With a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition from The University of Oxford, and an undergraduate degree in Spanish and Teaching English as a Second Language, I have extensive training and expertise in education. I have travelled extensively and worked in many different societies and cultures. I coach digital design and tech professionals to improve their communication skills in English.

🌍 My website/blog: https://fluentspeakers.co.uk

💌 GET IN TOUCH: If you are interested in working together or collaborating, send an email to gemma.keeling@fluentspeakers.co.uk

Many times we think we need to move to an English speaking country to improve our English.

After my own experience of studying languages, studying linguistics and my own experience of teaching my students and watching many other friends and clients, I've seen again and again that you do not need to live in the local country to develop your speaking skills.

In today’s episode I share how you can develop your English speaking skills without living abroad or having many opportunities to speak.

I also share some of the biggest mistakes that I have made living abroad and what I have learned teaching clients from all over the world who believed that they needed to move abroad to develop their fluency, and what happens when you are taken out of an English speaking environment.

Times to check out:

(01:57) This is what happens when I stop trying

(06:16) Language learner’s number one enemy

(8:55) Why comprehension is not enough as a Design Professional

(11:00) I could have had a very different experience

(15:27) The harsh truth

(18:17) What happens when you move back home

(21:00) Create the opportunity 

If you would like more support with communicating your ideas and you’d like to build your confidence in speaking as a non-native English speaker and get support from me, then get your name on The Fluent Club waiting list. It is the last chance to join in 2022 so if you have been considering it, NOW is the time. It won’t be opening again until 2023 and the price will be increasing.

Don't let not living in an English speaking country or not working for an English speaking company or not having many opportunities to speak or not having English speaking friends be the reason that stops you from making progress.

Recommended episode:

Are my language skills getting worse?

FOLLOW >

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fluentspeakersltd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fluentspeakers

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-keeling-fluentspeakers15/

WHO AM I: I'm Gemma Keeling, Founder, and CEO at Fluent Speakers. With a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition from The University of Oxford, and an undergraduate degree in Spanish and Teaching English as a Second Language, I have extensive training and expertise in education. I have travelled extensively and worked in many different societies and cultures. I coach digital design and tech professionals to improve their communication skills in English.

🌍 My website/blog: https://fluentspeakers.co.uk

💌 GET IN TOUCH: If you are interested in working together or collaborating, send an email to gemma.keeling@fluentspeakers.co.uk