Confident Business English
Anna Connelly
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.
- 12 minutes 28 seconds316. 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 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 meaningTHIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO?
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17 March 2026, 11:00 pm - 13 minutes 44 seconds315. 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 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 progressTHIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO?
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11 March 2026, 2:00 am - 14 minutes314. 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 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
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3 March 2026, 11:00 pm - 11 minutes 58 seconds313. 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 smarter framing that changes how you’re perceived.
Book mentioned in episode: The First Minute, Chris Fenny
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24 February 2026, 11:00 pm - 15 minutes 24 seconds312. 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 more credible in meetings. Enjoy! Anna
00:00 – Why precision matters in senior-level communication
02:30 – First key language shift
05:00 – Second key language shift
07:30 – Third key language shift
09:30 – Fourth key language shift
12:30 – A subtle nuance that changes tone
14:00 – How to apply the learningTHIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO?
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17 February 2026, 11:00 pm - 4 minutes 59 seconds310. 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 practical confidence, not more theory. Enjoy! Anna
Little Snippets are my 5-minute mini episodes on Confident Business English focused on my best confidence-boosting tips.
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10 February 2026, 11:00 pm - 5 minutes 1 second311. 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 how to be more compassionate with yourself when fatigue kicks in, especially at senior level. Enjoy! Anna
Little Snippets are my mini 5-minute episodes on Confident Business English focused on my best confidence-boosting tips.
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
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10 February 2026, 11:00 pm - 5 minutes 33 seconds309. 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 ideas to business impact, and get better feedback so your message lands with confidence. Enjoy! Anna
Little Snippets are my 5-minute mini episode series on Confident Business English.
THIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO?
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10 February 2026, 11:00 pm - 14 minutes 59 seconds308. 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 learn:
- Common British business expressions you’re likely to hear in real conversations
- The difference between 4 very common nouns for time management
- What it really means to broach a sensitive topic
PLEASE 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!
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3 February 2026, 11:00 pm - 14 minutes 17 seconds307. 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-second question for the episode? Send me an email at info@confidentbusinessenglish and I'll give you the information.
01:40 — Question 1: Luis
06:10 — How to choose the right word when working with teams, partners, and authorities
08:10 — Question 2: Petra
12:40 — How these words fit together (the “Russian doll” model)
17:40 — Practical summary + how to submit your own questionTHIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO?
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28 January 2026, 2:00 am - 15 minutes 48 seconds306. 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, so you can choose the right tone for meetings, feedback, and difficult conversations. Enjoy! Anna
01:40 — Direct vs diplomatic: the core communication problem
03:20 — Scenario 1: Managing time in meetings
06:40 — Scenario 2: Giving negative feedback
11:20 — Scenario 3: Rejecting an idea
14:40 — Key takeaways + how to practice
15:30 — Final action stepTHIS PODCAST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS. WANT TO BECOME A SUPPORTER TOO?
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21 January 2026, 8:18 am - More Episodes? Get the App