Business English training and coaching tip: how to be diplomatic at work

This Business English video tip is about being diplomatic. It is especially important if you do business with Americans, Brits, Canadians, the Irish etc. In Germany, it can be acceptable to be direct in many situations. If you have a criticism, it's okay to express this. In Anglo-Saxon and many English speaking cultures, it's more usual to be indirect or diplomatic.
Watch the video to find out how you can be indirect in English. If you need to be critical or talk about a problem, you can use these phrases to soften your message. I hope the video helps you and I wish you the best of luck in your Business English meetings.
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[AdamSmith-deoh]

I would go even broader. I would say 'We love the course and really enjoying it and we were just talking about it today actually. One idea we came up with is to do more general english as we think it will complement the business english well. What do you think? Is this something we can do?'

[goodhealththerapy]

Personally, i preferred to be more diplomatic in my everyday lifestyle. This is a great video explains both direct verse diplomatic approach.

[monkeyspankerful]

Thanks Neil, I am going to try and apply some of these tips. I lead a team of English teachers, I know that I can be quite frank or blunt, I also know I have a short fuse, especially when dealing with repetitive errors with regard to student registers or grading student the red mist does appear, even more so when I have previously explained the procedure we use. Deep breaths....

[schmirgo]

In Germany people are much more direct, than in most English speaking countries. I have to adapt my behaviour every time i deal with people from UK, US, Irish, etc. I sometimes appreciate the very direct communication, but often also people expect you to tell them directly.

[heretoshare]

The small issue with this video is that it's not very interesting. I THINK perhaps some music will make it more exciting? Could we try some nice music next time?

(You do realise that I am practicing diplomacy I learnt from the video) :)

[flossyjanekickenbocker]

I am American and I wish people were more direct here. In my opinion people are passive aggressive and underhanded in dealing with their problems because we don't know how to problem solve. Unless you take a course in effective communication or your parents taught you as a child, you pretty much resort to passive aggressiveness because that is the common role model. Most schools do not teach problem solving and effective communication so we have a lot if bullying and victimization going on. Also people are so easily offended, I don't know if that is something only happening here in the states or if it is a side effect of social media and happening around the world.

[willywahyudi]

In engineering industry brutal truth (particularly with internal communication) is more appreciated. Your tip might be usable for external communication, but even so, the customer in many cases doesn't interpret 100% correctly if we soften the words, and sometimes people think it's sugar coating.
But perhaps this tips might be really usable for initial interaction whereas we are not really familiar yet with the guy, but once we know the guy then direct communication forms trust

[TheCozzie]

But it's just beating around the bush. This is sugar coating the real issue for people.

[bhargavmaddi]

Awesome Tips.. :) being a fresher ...these helped me in my new corporate life :)

[vannav]

I completely agree with his suggestions on how to say the same thing without hurting someone's feelings. This will ALWAYS be to your benefit to word your thoughts this way.

[rambantu]

that was an amazing video! good finishing sir!

[johnceni]

diplomatic means, opening remarks..!..

[Purpleiciousbabe]

I dont think its sensitivity.
I think it is because they are just not bold and confident more wuss and fake lol. sorry!