Confident Business English
Business & Finance
About
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.
Episodes
- 327. The Realities of Speaking English at Work: 3 Things That Knock Your Confidence (And What to Do About It)
Lots of different things can knock your confidence as a senior manager. Sometimes it's a comment, a specific experience presentation, or even a particular colleague that makes you feel less confident. In this episode, I share three real ex…
- 326. 3 Verbs Every Senior Manager Needs: Maintain, Keep and Stay
This week, I want to train you on three business verbs that professionals often confuse: maintain, keep and stay .You’ll learn how native speakers actually use them in meetings, management and everyday workplace communication so you can so…
- 325. Anna’s Key Takeaways: Can vs Can’t, Difficult Questions & Clearer Pronunciation
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 question…
- 324. Sound More Like Yourself in English With These Classic Business Sayings
This episode of Confident Business English focuses on common business sayings and expressions. The goal is to help senior managers sound more like themselves in English by learning how to use these phrases naturally in context.
- 323. How to Confidently Explain Staff Changes in Global Team Meetings
This episode of Confident Business English focuses on vocabulary and phrases for explaining staff changes, such as promotions and departures, in global team meetings. It aims to help listeners communicate these changes professionally and c…
- 322. Get Your Proposals Approved: 3 Language Tricks to Feel More Confident in the Room
This episode of Confident Business English shares 3 language tips, inspired by a client, to make proposals more persuasive in English. The goal is to help listeners communicate ideas clearly, sound credible, and improve their chances of ge…
- 321. It's Not Just You: The Hidden Struggles of Speaking English at Work
Episode 321 of Confident Business English addresses the hidden challenges senior professionals encounter when speaking English in the workplace. It draws on client experiences to provide insights and advice for building confidence.
- 320. My Key Takeaways: Come Up, Take the Lead… and One Word You Might Be Avoiding
This episode of Confident Business English shares key takeaways from client sessions, focusing on common business phrasal verbs, motivational delegation phrases, and pronunciation challenges when justifying decisions.
- 319. Sound Like a Leader in English, Not a Micromanager: Get Your Team to Take Ownership (Without Pushing Them)
If 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 owner…
- 318. When You're Capable in English… But You Don’t Trust Yourself (A Conversation with Joely Pullen)
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 a…
- 317. Ask Anna: Grasp an Essential Business Verb & Add More Impact to Your Messages
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 NEWSLETTE…
- 316. Real-Life Business English: Colleague Conversation After Conference (Anna Reports)
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…
- 315. It’s Not Just You: The Reality of Speaking English at Work
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 man…
- 314. The Technical Series: Reported Speech for Senior Managers
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…
- 313. Train Your Executive Voice with 3 Small Shifts
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 smar…
- 312. The Technical Series: 15 Minutes to More Precise Progress Updates
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 m…
- 311. English, Energy, and Long Workdays: Little Snippets #21
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…
- 309. Communicating Effectively with Executives: Little Snippet #19
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…
- 310. Your Business English Prescription: Little Snippet #20
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 practic…
- 308. Anna Reports: 5 Phrases from a Business Call I Overheard on the Train
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 lea…
- 307. Let’s Answer Your Business English Questions!
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 Do you want to record a 30-s…
- 306. If You Feel Too Direct When You Speak English, Listen to This
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,…
- 305. How to Build Confidence and Connection in English at Work
Making conversation in English can feel harder than meetings, presentations, or technical discussions, especially when you are a senior manager. In this episode, I give you ways to help reduce feeling awkward and uncertain to feeling more…
- 304. I Don’t Sound Like a Senior Manager in English: 11 Executive Upgrades to Get On Autopilot
You are already able to communicate in English but you don't feel confident that you sound like a senior manager. In this episode, I've picked my top 11 quick upgrades you can make to sound more executive. But let me be clear, you don’t ne…
- 303. What Did They Just Say? Real Meeting English for Senior Managers
As a senior manager, not understanding can feel very uncomfortable. You know people are looking to you to lead the conversation. If you miss something, you might say something wrong and worry you will look like silly. It's an understandabl…
- 302. Executive Presence in English: Habits to Improve Your Delivery
You can already speak English but do you sound like the senior manager you are? In this episode, I walk you through the small communication habits that quietly affect how you come across at work. Enjoy! Anna 01:30 – The uncomfortable lesso…
- 301. 12 Minutes to Speak Like a Leader in Your Next Interview
If you’ve got an interview in English for a senior role, you need answers that reflect your true experience, clearly, confidently, and with the right vocabulary. In just 12 minutes, I’ll walk you through the leadership verbs and phrases th…
- 300. Senior Manager Quick Wins: One Small Word to Sound More Diplomatic
Learn one small but powerful word you can use in difficult conversations to sound more diplomatic and confident without hiding your message. Senior managers use this word to soften feedback, communicate concerns clearly, and handle sensiti…
- 299. Decode Business Phrases: No More “What Does That Mean?”
The last Decode episode was really popular so I wanted to expand to a new mini series throughout this season. If you’ve ever been in a meeting and thought, “Wait… what does that phrase actually mean?” this episode is for you. Let me take y…
- 298. Don’t Break Your Flow! Clarify the Business Words That Make You Hesitate
CLICK HERE TO MY NEXT FREE LIVESTREAM 12TH NOVEMBER 2025 19.30 (Madrid time) Do you break the flow when you speak because you’re unsure if you’re using the right word? In this 15-minute episode, I’ll help you finally clarify the most commo…
- 297. Ask Your First Question at a Conference
Do you have a a great question but there's a big audience and it's intimidating? this short, practical session I give you a clear 5-step framework, real examples, and delivery tips so you can speak up, ask a question confidently and feel l…
- 296. 15 Minutes to See Your English Differently
If you already speak English every day but still doubt yourself, this one’s for you. In 15 minutes, I want to help you shift your perspective so you can focus on more on what actually matters. This is a coaching episode which is part of th…
- 295. Disagree Without Disconnecting: Cross-Cultural Skills for International Managers (With Lindsay McMahon, All Ears English)
In this episode, I talk with Lindsay McMahon, CEO and co-host of All Ears English , about how senior managers can disagree more effectively and sensitively in global business settings. We explore cultural differences in communication, key…
- 294. Crack the Code: Everyday British Work Phrases—Explained
In this episode, I break down common everyday British workplace expressions that you have told me often confuse you. From casual phrases to more formal ones. You’ll learn their real meanings and when to expect them so you can respond confi…
- 293. Help! I Need to Improvise in Meetings — And Be Confident
In this episode of Confident Business English, I provide you with strategies to help you feel more confident when unexpectedly asked to speak in English during meetings. I share 3 practical frameworks to effectively structure responses. I…
- 292. Explain Why It Matters: Effective English Structures to Persuade at Work
Do you ever feel it's hard to convince people of your ideas in English? You feel you are not as persuasive and your sentences are flat. I actually come across this problem frequently with clients. That's why I'd like to help you explain wh…
- 291. Put These 3 Phrases into Action in Your Next Meeting (Season Premiere)
Welcome back to a brand new season of Confident Business English. I wanted to kick off focusing on one of the things you told me you love about the podcast - content you can actually use in real life at work. In this episode I've selected…
- 290. Let's Wrap it Up! My Final Key Takeaways for This Season
Let's wrap up this season with a final episode of my key takeaways as a Neurolanguage Coach®, working with senior managers like you every single day. We will touch on how to be more clear, understand commonly confused business words and en…
- 289. Self-Conscious About Your Pronunciation? Spend 30 Minutes with an Expert (Bonus Guest Episode)
For the penultimate episode of Confident Business English this season, I am bringing you a bonus guest episode Emma from Pronunciation with Emma. If you haven't heard of Emma already, she has 15+ years of experience and over 1 mill. follow…
- 288. Know Exactly What to Say: 11 Essential One-Liners for Real Moments in the Workplace
Your team member is leaving, you find out a colleague is pregnant or sadly a colleague's family member has passed away. What to say in these real moments in the workplace? Let me walk you through 11 one-liners you feel confident you know e…
- 287. From Flat to Convincing: Build Your Executive Presence in English
Do you have to convince and persuade your colleagues on your ideas? Are you worried your points sound flat and don't make an impact because you don't have the right words? In this episode I illustrate how choosing the right vocabulary can…
- 286. My Key Takeaways: Finally Understand This Crucial Business Tense for Clearer Communication
Recently, I've been getting the same question from my clients. "How do I use the present perfect properly? I understand the technical grammar but I have doubts about when to use it." As you are always a senior manager too, you may also lac…
- 285. Core Business English Skills: Train Yourself To Understand Fast Phrases
Let's build your confidence with your core skills - understanding when your colleagues are speaking quickly. In this episode, I focus on business english phrases with connected speech to help you identify key sounds which will enable you t…
- 284. Little Snippet #18: Make Sense of a Common but Confusing Verb
I'm in the UK this week and we are going to take a break from the normal schedule to bring you another Little Snippet. These are my 5-minute episode formats with tips and tricks focused on one specific Business English topic. This one focu…
- 283. How to Use "Get" Part 2: Essential Business Verbs
This is a series called Essential Business Verbs. We continue our look at "get" one of the verbs my clients say time and time they find very confusing. I walk you through 3 more common meanings, examples and a chance to practice along with…
- 282. Struggling to Express High-Level Industry Trends? Use This Easy Structure
Let me take you through a simple structure you can use to sound great when communicating high-level trends in your sector in English. I also share lots of real-life examples sent in by other professionals listening to this podcast. GET MY…
- 281. BONUS EPISODE Mindset Shifts for Senior Managers: Insights from a Mindset Coach for High Achievers
Join me this week for a bonus episode where I invite Oli Cooke, a mindset coach for high achievers to share his practical tips for your biggest challenges. In my opinion, Improving your mindset when communicating in English and becoming mo…
- 280. My Key Takeaways: Fix Confusing Phrases, More Assertive Questions, Reading News, Build a Resilient Mindset & More!
Join me for more of my key business english takeaways from my work as a Neurolanguage Coach. I touch on loads of topics. Vocabulary, grammar, reading tips and mindset. Don't miss out. GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member an…
- 279. Never Feel Awkward Again: The Only Phrases You Need to Invite Colleagues for Coffee and Lunch
Have you ever wanted to ask a colleague to go for a coffee or lunch before a meeting, but felt awkward (uncomfortable) because you didn’t know the right phrases? Let me share three key phrases in English to invite your colleagues for coffe…
- 278. Executive English: Deliver Concise Reports in Under 1 Minute
Do you ever need to report to your executive team but struggle to be concise in English? In this episode I share a simple communication framework that originated in the US military that you can take advantage of to make your life easier wh…