Claim OwnershipConfident Business English
Subscribed: 5,743Played: 92,919
Subscribe
© 2020 - 2025 Anna Connelly
Description
Are you a senior manager who lacks confidence communicating in English at work? Accredited Neurolanguage Coach® Anna Connelly brings professionals like you, who already need to use English in their daily work, practical business English tips to help your boost confidence. The goal is to help you feel more confident using a framework of 1. Learn, 2. Take Action, 3. Repeat. Professionals say they love the podcast because it's to-the-point, it covers on very relevant topics and they get results just from listening.
276 Episodes
Reverse
This week I bring you more of my Key Takeaways taken from client sessions over the last few weeks: In this episode:
The real difference between “can” and “can’t” in fast business conversations
Useful phrases for handling difficult questions with transparency and professionalism
Simple pronunciation techniques to improve clarity and reduce misunderstandings
Perfect for you as a senior managers working in high-stakes international environments. Enjoy! Anna
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
Do you ever feel that you can't get across your complete personality and style as a senior manager in English? In this episode, you’ll learn common business sayings and expressions to help you sound more like yourself in your native language. I’ll show you how to use them naturally in context and I hope this helps you feel more confident to use them. Enjoy! Anna
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
One of my clients leads quarterly meetings with teams across Brazil, APAC, Europe, and the US but when it came to explaining recent staff changes, they realised they weren’t confident using the right English vocabulary. If you’ve ever hesitated when talking about promotions, internal moves, or people leaving, this episode is for you. You’ll learn the key phrases senior managers use to describe company movements clearly, professionally, and confidently in global team meetings. Enjoy! Anna
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
Inspired by a senior manager client, here are 3 simple language tips to make your proposals more persuasive in English so you can communicate your ideas clearly, sound more credible, and improve your chances of getting approval. I hope it makes you feel more confident with your messaging when you walk into the room. Enjoy! Anna
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
Welcome back to another episodes in the It's Not JustYou series. Speaking English at work as senior IS hard. You are up against quite a lot. Building on a previous story and insights from real client experiences, we break down the hidden challenges and how to move forward with more confidence. Enjoy! Anna
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
Let's do another of my Key Takeaways episode. This is where I take learnings from recent client sessions I think you will find very helpful to feel more confident with business english vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. This week I picked 4 very common business phrasal verbs that are definitely worth knowing, a great phrase to delegate work while still sounding motivational and a tricky word to pronounce which appears when justifying your decisions. Enjoy! Anna
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
1If one of your goals in English is to sound more strategic and less directive, this episode is for you. I break down how to structure a coaching conversation in English, with precise language you can use to guide your team, encourage ownership, and handle performance discussions with more confidence. Enjoy! Anna
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
In this episode of Confident Business English, I’m joined by Joely Pullen, who owns Savvy English. A company with 2000+ students across 25 companies, for the first part of a real, unscripted conversation about confidence at work. We talk about a challenge we both see all the time: professionals who already have a good level of English but don’t feel confident using it when it really matters. If you’ve ever thought “I know what I want to say, but I just don’t say it,” this episode will resonate. We explore the difference between confidence and competence, why this is often harder to fix than language itself, and what’s really going on beneath the surface. Enjoy! Anna
Joely's LinkedIn
Savvy English Instagram
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
In this episode, you will hear Business English questions from senior managers like you. If you want to choose the right word with confidence and sound more precise at work, this episode is for you. Enjoy! Anna
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
In this episode of Anna Reports, you will listen in on a real conversation between British colleagues I heard after a conference in Madrid. You’ll hear the kinds of expressions, humour, complaints and tone that appear in natural workplace conversations. The kind of English you rarely see in textbooks. Hopefully by the end you will have picked up a few phrases that will help you feel more confident in your conversations. Enjoy! Anna
02:15 — British workplace humour
05:00 — Small complaints in conversation
07:20 — “Catch up” in workplace English
09:30 — Softening opinions in conversation
11:20 — Reading tone and hidden meaning
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
Speaking English at a senior level often brings difficult experiences that aren't always talked about. You start questioning yourself: Did I say it wrong? Did I sound too direct? Did they understand me? In this episode, you’ll see that many of these experiences are normal. I share my own personal experiences as well as client stories you will resonate with. I hope the reflections will help you reframe difficult moments so they affect your confidence less. Enjoy!
01:20 — Interpreting reactions in meetings
03:00 — The “different personality” feeling in another language
05:40 — Handling criticism and unhelpful comments
07:30 — When people interrupt or finish your sentences
09:30 — Awkward everyday situations
11:30 — Mindset shifts that build confidence
12:20 — A simple exercise to track your progress
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
In this Technical Series episode, I focus on reported speech. This was inspired by a client question and I thought it would be a great topic, as it is something often often looked but something you use every single day as a senior manager when relaying what the board, clients, or your team have said. I'll clarify the key structures, common mistakes, and how to broaden your reporting verbs so you can speak clearly, accurately, and without breaking your flow. Enjoy! Anna
00:00 — Why this matters at senior level
02:00 — Core structure & common pitfalls
05:00 — Expanding your reporting language
08:30 — Reporting discussions & instructions
11:30 — Real business examples & takeaways
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
Do you ever feel your English sounds fine, but not quite executive? In this episode, you’ll learn three simple language shifts that will help strengthen your presence in your interactions as a senior manager. Nothing complicated. Just smarter framing that changes how you’re perceived.
Book mentioned in episode: The First Minute, Chris Fenny
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
Asa senior manager you constantly report on progress, what’s done, what’s delayed, what’s ongoing, and what’s stopped. In this episode, you’ll learn how to use four essential adverbs to make your status updates clearer, more precise, and more credible in meetings. Enjoy! Anna00:00 – Why precision matters in senior-level communication02:30 – First key language shift05:00 – Second key language shift07:30 – Third key language shift09:30 – Fourth key language shift12:30 – A subtle nuance that changes tone14:00 – How to apply the learning
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
Speaking English all day at conferences, events, or meetings is mentally exhausting and that’s normal. In this short episode, you’ll learn why your English can feel worse as the day goes on, why this has nothing to do with your level, and how to be more compassionate with yourself when fatigue kicks in, especially at senior level. Enjoy! AnnaLittle Snippets are my mini 5-minute episodes on Confident Business English focused on my best confidence-boosting tips.
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
In this mini episode, you’ll learn how putting key phrases and standard interactions on autopilot can reduce stress, improve fluency, and free up your energy for more difficult conversations. Perfect for busy professionals who want practical confidence, not more theory. Enjoy! AnnaLittle Snippets are my 5-minute mini episodes on Confident Business English focused on my best confidence-boosting tips.
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
Highly capable professionals are often overlooked not because of their expertise, but because their message isn’t clear. In 5-minute short episode, you’ll learn simple, practical tips to communicate more clearly with executives, link your ideas to business impact, and get better feedback so your message lands with confidence. Enjoy! AnnaLittle Snippets are my 5-minute mini episode series on Confident Business English.
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
In this episode, I introduce a new format Anna Reports, where I reveal takeaways from real business conversations I've heard and break them down the natural English phrases so you feel more confident with them in the workplace. You’ll learn:Common British business expressions you’re likely to hear in real conversationsThe difference between 4 very common nouns for time managementWhat it really means to broach a sensitive topicPLEASE NOTE I've deliberately recorded this episode to be even more conversational to challenge you more. It's normal if you find it harder than usual. Read along with the transcript if that helps. Enjoy!
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
In this episode, you will hear Business English questions from senior managers like you. If you want to choose the right word with confidence and sound more precise at work, this episode is for you. Enjoy! AnnaDo you want to record a 30-second question for the episode? Send me an email at info@confidentbusinessenglish and I'll give you the information. 01:40 — Question 1: Luis06:10 — How to choose the right word when working with teams, partners, and authorities08:10 — Question 2: Petra12:40 — How these words fit together (the “Russian doll” model)17:40 — Practical summary + how to submit your own question
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
As a senior manager, at times you will need to be direct and at times, diplomatic. However, you feel your vocabulary is limited and you tend to speak too directly. In this episode, I show you how to say the same message in different ways, so you can choose the right tone for meetings, feedback, and difficult conversations. Enjoy! Anna01:40 — Direct vs diplomatic: the core communication problem03:20 — Scenario 1: Managing time in meetings06:40 — Scenario 2: Giving negative feedback11:20 — Scenario 3: Rejecting an idea14:40 — Key takeaways + how to practice15:30 — Final action step
GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO? TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyYouTube @annabusinessenglish
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States
I'm really loving your podcast! Your tone is perfect, and you dive into such useful aspects of professional life. Keep going! Happy New Year, dear Anna! 🥰
Thanks for this episode. I rarely shy away from asking questions, but I've always had problems trying to formulate my question in a reasonable way.
👌👌👌👌
ان
słychać akcent wschodni niestety
❤️🔥
there is an objection , about your accent , sometime I receive British and sometime American and sometime between these two.
awesome 👍
you can't even imagine how much I love this episode. All those words to give us confidence mixed by your calming voice tone is just perfect. I like using shadowing techniques on your episodes hence all the words you are using and your friendly tone is literally awesome . Thanks for all your work
Ome of the best educational podcasts I have ever listened to.
dear Anna, last week I accidentally found your podcast on castbox, and let me tell you something. I found you a great teacher and I am not talking about the content of your podcast which is also very good, I am talking abou your compassion for your students, the way that you try to keep us motivated. I am glad that I found you😊. I am using your podcast to keep in touch with english while I am lerning German, and you are helping me with my German too by teaching me how to keep up🍀.
👌👌
what a great story and good pieces of advice! you're so beautiful with or without earings😍👌