Pep Talk India

We all communicate with each other on a daily basis. Sharing and conveying information is the foundation of all business in the world and it is of crucial importance that one learns how to become an effective communicator . What is effective communication? When the sender and receiver of the message are on the same page regarding the information that is being shared, then it can be termed as effective communication. In advertising and PR, effective communication holds immense weightage as any vague message can lead to a complete disaster for the people involved. To know what effective communication really constitutes, it is helpful to keep in mind the characteristics of the same. Here are 8 of them: 1. Complete: The message should be complete and there should be no scope for questions. 2. Clear: The communication should be clear and self-explanatory about why it has been transmitted and what the nature of its transmission is. 3. Correct: The informatio

Whenever you write, your aim is to get your message across clearly. This involves a careful selection of words so that your ideas and opinions are expressed in a lucid and forceful manner while also do not offend any particular community, group, or race. For this, you need to write using a bias-free language i.e. words and phrases that are not denigrating or demeaning to age, race, gender, physical conditions, ethnicity, and religion. Here are some detailed suggestions on the same that will help you improve your English writing skills: Refer to a group by the term it prefers Language changes as per the evolving social structures. What was deemed acceptable some fifty years ago could be seemingly offensive today. For example,   Black people were referred as ‘colored’ or ‘negro’ earlier, but now the acceptable terms are African American and Black. Asian is used instead of Oriental. Latino/Latina is used for males and females from Central and Latin America, r

English is the language of business around the world. International seminars, conferences, and meetings are organized in English; large MNCs and corporate firms also prefer English as the language of communication . If you want to succeed on the big level, then it is necessary to be acquainted well with the nitty-gritty of business English, because more often than not, you will find yourself traveling to cities in new countries for onsite work. Here are some useful business English expressions you should be aware of: 1. Carve out a niche Meaning: To find a specialized market that you can control Example: To succeed in the competitive world of freelancing, you have to carve out a niche in order to succeed. 2. Bring to the table Meaning: Whatever you can possibly offer Example: I will set up a meeting with the client to convey him what we can bring to the table. 3. On a shoestring Meaning: With limited money or budget Example: We a

When we begin our journey to become a confident public speaker, it is extremely important to have a structured plan in place. This can be achieved by enrolling in a reputed public speaking course and develop your own set of activities to work towards your goals. The following 4-step activities are recommended to transform yourself into a successful public speaker. Work on them diligently! 1. Develop a Public Speaking Portfolio First of all, you need to develop a portfolio to document your journey as a public speaker. Purchase a notebook to articulate your communication goals for the next few months. This should include:           Speech topics and outlines          Instructor evaluations           Self and peer critiques for every speech          Written assignments  2. Interview a High-Ranking Professional Set up an interview with a managing director or any high-ranking professional within your community. Ensure you have a robust networking

There are several idiomatic expressions in the English language that use units of measurement to describe different things figuratively or to make an observation. A commonly used word in such idioms is ‘inch’. If you want to be amazed that how many ways can inch be used in idioms, then read on! 8. Every inch a (something) To ‘be every inch a (something)’ or ‘every inch the (something) is to resemble or embody a stereotypical look or trait to nearly an exact match.     E.g. Once he got into his new Armani suit, he looked every inch a Hollywood starlet 7. Within an inch of (one’s) life This means to beat someone so severely that the person comes very close (within an inch, figuratively) to death. E.g. The rioters beat up the man so badly that he within an inch of his life at the hospital. 6. To move by inches/inch by inch This means to move or progress very slowly, either physically or in a task. E.g. Rahul’s project moved inch by inch and his teachers

Learning English can be a deeply satisfying experience both intellectually and professionally. When you learn English, new avenues open for job opportunities, you becomes more aware of the social and cultural identities of people around the world and how the English language has become the facilitator of communication among people in different countries.  However, there are also some pitfalls of learning the language as you find it increasingly difficult to pronounce the words in the correct manner. There are many factors to this, with mother tongue influence being a leading cause among people in the eastern states of Bihar and U.P., where there is a tendency to utter ‘sh’ as ‘s’. There are different ways through which you can improve your English pronunciation. There is no short cut and you will have to work diligently on these steps for an extended duration of time to witness long-term gains. Here are some recommended ways: 1. Record Yourself Speaking English

We need to communicate with people almost on a daily basis. There can be different situations- formal or casual, that require us to convey our message to the other person in a sophisticated manner. Using communication idioms can make you sound slick and smooth, while also helping you to get your point across effectively. Here are 10 such idioms (the ones that indicate miscommunication are also included) that you can use in your daily conversations: 1) Get hold/ahold of To get hold of ahold of someone means to get in touch with them or contact them, usually by phone. E.g. I need to get hold of Rohit to tell him that his class has been postponed to tomorrow. 2) Drop me a line When you drop someone a line it mean to contact a person. This can be done through e-mail or phone. E.g. I am looking for new job opportunities. Please drop me a line if there are any good openings in your company. 3) Keep me posted To keep someone posted means to keep that person updat

You all must have heard of the adage- ‘first impression is the last impression’. And in several cases, the first impression becomes extremely important and can be a make or break situation for you. This can be an interview , a crucial business meeting, or even a matrimonial meet up. Any mistake on your part can result in instant rejection and loss of potential opportunity. In order to avoid this, you must always be prepared to the tee to impress the person you are going to meet. Here are some important tips that you should remember: 5. Dress formally or personably Your clothes will be the first thing noticed by the person you will meet. It is imperative that you don’t dress shabbily or casually (especially for formal meetings or interviews) as this gives the impression that you are not serious. Be dressed formally or in attire that gives a personable appearance.     4. Carry positivity in your talk You should have a cheerful disposition and be positive when talk

There are many people who are socially awkward and feel uncomfortable in a room full of strangers. The situation aggravates for them if they have to address that particular unknown audience. Nervousness. Weird body language. Shaky hands. Sweaty palms. Week knees. Social anxiety shoots to the highest levels. It becomes especially a point of concern when the ‘room full of strangers’ is actually your group discussion batch to get admission into a premier B-school. How to be more confident in front of strangers? Here are 5 effective tips that will help you out! 1. Formulate Sentences Beforehand Envision different scenarios and situations that can arise when you interact with unknown people. In a professional or corporate setup, it is possible that there is a certain defined way that the other person would respond. For example, refer to this list of articles for English conversations . You can expect a specific response and formulate sentences beforehand. Spontaneity does not

At Pep Talk India , one of the most common enquiries we receive from our students is regarding stuttering or stammering while speaking on the stage or during a presentation. There are many people in this world who are well-versed with most aspects of the English language, but when it comes to giving a public speech, they fumble, hesitate, and repeat stuff to the point that it breaks their confidence. Being unable to express yourself is an incredibly frustrating experience and finding yourself tongue-tied during a crucial presentation that could significantly impact your career can push down your morale for the future. After taking into account the experiences of hundreds of students, and actively training them to overcome their fears and hesitation during public speaking, the Pep Talk India team has come up with some extremely effective tips that will help you overcome your stuttering: 1. Practice Deep Breathing One of the main reasons why your words come out like a garbled