If you show other people that you are listening to them, and that you understand them, they will be more willing to listen to you and accept your opinion. Don't just say "I disagree ", show them that you are listening and that you understand them before you explain your opinion.People react to positive sounding words, even if they are used with a negative auxiliary.Break down negative sentences with some softeners. This is aggressive and too direct. Try to avoid saying 'you' and put the focus on 'I' or 'we'.

HOW TO BE HUMBLE

<h2>British Slang: 20 phrases that will confuse anybody who didn't grow up in the UK</h2>Our expert English language trainer Emma Palmieri will share examples and tell you more about the history of some of them. Date: 25 February Time: 17:30 (UK time) Speaker: Emma PalmieriIn this blog we are going to teach you 5 ways to be polite and diplomatic in your speaking.&nbsp; If you're too direct when you speak you can come across as aggressive and this might put people off. This is true in business meetings and negotiations, but also in many other day to day situations.&nbsp; Here are 5 ways you can make your English more polite, indirect and diplomatic. Follow these tips and you should make the right impression when you talk to people.&nbsp;<h2>1. Listen and be understanding</h2>If you show other people that you are listening to them, and that you understand them, they will be more willing to listen to you and accept your opinion. Don't just say&nbsp;"I disagree", show them that you are listening and that you understand them before you explain your opinion.You can do this by using statements like:Yes, but...I see what you mean, but...I agree up to a point, but For example:I think we should wait until a better opportunity comes along.Yes, but we might not get another opportunity like this for a while.I think we should ask for a 20% discount because it will show them that we are serious.I see what you mean, but I think 20% might be a bit too much. It might put them off.<h2>2. Avoid negative words - instead use positive words in a negative form</h2>People react to positive sounding words, even if they are used with a negative auxiliary.Don't say:&nbsp;I think that's a bad idea.Say:&nbsp;I don't think that's such a good idea. Let's go for a good cop, bad cop approach in this negotiation!I don't think that's such a good idea. They might see through it.<h2>3. Say the magic word: Sorry</h2>This word can be used in many ways: to interrupt, to apologise, to show you don't understand, to disagree. It diffuses tension and it allows you to start a statement more comfortably.&nbsp;Sorry, but can I just say something hereSorry, but I don't really agreeSorry, but I think that's out of the question<h2>4. Use little words to soften your statements</h2>Break down negative sentences with some softeners. &nbsp;Don't say:&nbsp;I don't like itSay:&nbsp;I don't really like it I'm afraidDon't say:&nbsp;Can I say something?Say:&nbsp;Can I just say something here?Don't say:&nbsp;I didn't catch thatSay:&nbsp;Sorry, I didn't quite catch that<h2>5. Avoid 'finger pointing' statements with the word 'you'</h2>This is aggressive and too direct. Try to avoid saying 'you' and put the focus on 'I' or 'we'.Don't say:&nbsp;You don't understand me.Say:&nbsp;Perhaps I'm not making myself clear.Don't say:You didn't explain this point.Say:&nbsp;I didn't understand this point.Don't say:&nbsp;You need to give us a better price.Say:&nbsp;We're looking for a better price.So, those are&nbsp;our&nbsp;5 pieces of advice for being polite and diplomatic. Try to use them when you speaking and you will become a more effective communicator in English.&nbsp;<h2>Recommended courses:</h2>Find out more about our&nbsp;<a title="https://www.londonschool.com/courses/general-english/general-english-30/" href="https://www.londonschool.com/courses/general-english/general-english-20/" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" dir="ltr">General English 20+</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a title="https://www.londonschool.com/courses/business-and-professionals/business-and-professional-english-30/" href="https://www.londonschool.com/courses/business-and-professionals/business-and-professional-english-30/" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" dir="ltr">Business and Professional 25+ courses</a>. You can also take our&nbsp;<a title="https://www.londonschool.com/courses/business-and-professionals/intercultural-competence-plus-english/" href="https://www.londonschool.com/courses/business-and-professionals/intercultural-competence-plus-english/" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" dir="ltr">Intercultural Competence plus Business English course</a>.&nbsp;If you need to learn online, we offer&nbsp;<a title="https://www.londonschool.com/lso/online-courses/" href="https://www.londonschool.com/lso/online-courses/" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" dir="ltr">Online English Courses</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a title="https://www.londonschool.com/lso/online-courses/skype-lessons/" href="https://www.londonschool.com/lso/online-courses/skype-lessons/" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" dir="ltr">Skype English lessons</a>.Share this<UL><LI><img src="https://assets.londonschool.com/live/static/img/social/share-bar/twitter.75fbb5dca3b5.png" alt="Twitter" width="12" height="10"></LI></UL>

Here are 5 ways you can make your English more polite, indirect and diplomatic. Follow these tips and you should make the right impression when you talk to people. If you show other people that you are listening to them, and that you understand them, they will be more willing to listen to you and accept your opinion.

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British Slang: 20 phrases that will confuse anybody who didn't grow up in the UK

Our expert English language trainer Emma Palmieri will share examples and tell you more about the history of some of them. Date: 25 February Time: 17:30 (UK time) Speaker: Emma Palmieri

In this blog we are going to teach you 5 ways to be polite and diplomatic in your speaking.

If you're too direct when you speak you can come across as aggressive and this might put people off. This is true in business meetings and negotiations, but also in many other day to day situations.  Here are 5 ways you can make your English more polite, indirect and diplomatic. Follow these tips and you should make the right impression when you talk to people.

If you show other people that you are listening to them, and that you understand them, they will be more willing to listen to you and accept your opinion. Don't just say "I disagree ", show them that you are listening and that you understand them before you explain your opinion.

You can do this by using statements like:

I see what you mean, but...

I agree up to a point, but For example:

I think we should wait until a better opportunity comes along.

Yes, but we might not get another opportunity like this for a while.

I think we should ask for a 20% discount because it will show them that we are serious.

I see what you mean, but I think 20% might be a bit too much. It might put them off.

2. Avoid negative words - instead use positive words in a negative form

People react to positive sounding words, even if they are used with a negative auxiliary.

Don't say: I think that's a bad idea.

Say: I don't think that's such a good idea.

Let's go for a good cop, bad cop approach in this negotiation!

I don't think that's such a good idea. They might see through it.

This word can be used in many ways: to interrupt, to apologise, to show you don't understand, to disagree. It diffuses tension and it allows you to start a statement more comfortably.

Sorry, but can I just say something here

Sorry, but I don't really agree

Sorry, but I think that's out of the question

4. Use little words to soften your statements

Break down negative sentences with some softeners.

Don't say: I don't like it

Say: I don't really like it I'm afraid

Don't say: Can I say something?

Say: Can I just say something here?

Don't say: I didn't catch that

Say: Sorry, I didn't quite catch that

5. Avoid 'finger pointing' statements with the word 'you'

This is aggressive and too direct. Try to avoid saying 'you' and put the focus on 'I' or 'we'.

Don't say: You don't understand me.

Say: Perhaps I'm not making myself clear.

Don't say:You didn't explain this point.

Say: I didn't understand this point.

Don't say: You need to give us a better price.

Say: We're looking for a better price.

So, those are our 5 pieces of advice for being polite and diplomatic. Try to use them when you speaking and you will become a more effective communicator in English.

Find out more about our <a href="https://www.londonschool.com/courses/general-english/general-english-20/">General English 20+ </a> and <a href="https://www.londonschool.com/courses/business-and-professionals/business-and-professional-english-30/">Business and Professional 25+ courses </a>. You can also take our <a href="https://www.londonschool.com/courses/business-and-professionals/intercultural-competence-plus-english/">Intercultural Competence plus Business English course </a>. If you need to learn online, we offer <a href="https://www.londonschool.com/lso/online-courses/">Online English Courses </a> and <a href="https://www.londonschool.com/lso/online-courses/skype-lessons/">Skype English lessons </a>.

5 Tips for Polite and Diplomatic Language

HOW TO BE HUMBLE

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