You speak English every day. You lead meetings, deliver updates, contribute to your team, and handle complex responsibilities. You’re fluent. And yet you may have received feedback that your communication is sometimes unclear, hard to follow, or lacking impact.
This can be confusing and frustrating. It can create insecurity and leave you unsure about how to improve things. But you can take solace in the fact that this is a common problem and you’re not alone. It is a problem we all can face to some degree, whether English is our native language or not. And it boils down to how your message is received, why it is being received in this way, and what you can do to change it.
Let’s break down the different aspects of communication and how we can be clear and effective in sharing our message.
- Clarity
Clarity means your message is understood the first time it’s heard. This can be affected by pronunciation, word choice, and stress patterns. Misplaced stress or mispronounced words can subtly shift the meaning — or make listeners work harder to follow you. Even something as simple as saying “com-FORT-able” instead of “COMF-ter-ble” can slow comprehension. Clear speech doesn’t mean perfect speech — it means intelligible, intentional delivery.
Solution: Work on refining key sounds, especially those that interfere with understanding. Learn natural phrasing that replaces translated or overly literal expressions with ones that feel professional and native-like.
- Rhythm
Rhythm is the musicality of speech — the natural rise and fall, the stress and unstress of syllables and words. English has a rhythmic cadence that guides listeners through what’s important. When the rhythm is flat, too even, or patterned differently from what listeners expect, communication can feel dull or confusing, even when the grammar is correct.
Solution: Practice emphasizing key words, using pitch changes and pauses for effect. This brings your speech to life and helps listeners stay engaged.
- Speed
Many speakers rush without realizing it — especially when they’re nervous or translating in their head. Speaking too fast doesn’t just blur your pronunciation; it robs your listener of the time they need to process what you’re saying.
Solution: Slow down slightly. Not to a crawl, but enough to make room for thought. Use shorter sentences. Pause at natural breaks. Become comfortable with silence and let it support your message.
- Fillers
We all use fillers — um, ah, like, you know — and repeat words while we are looking for what comes next. But when these fillers and hesitations become frequent, they dilute your message. They suggest hesitation, uncertainty, or lack of preparation and they can make it harder for the listener to know what to listen to. And if it is in a second language, if you are often searching for a word or phrase, these fillers can stack up.
Solution: One approach is to replace fillers with intentional silence. Practice pausing confidently. Train your brain to rest instead of rushing. It gives both you and your listener time to breathe.
- Structure
If your thoughts feel disorganized, your ideas won’t land. In English-speaking business settings, listeners expect a clear structure: start with your point, then explain or support it. Rambling, circling, or saving your message for the end can confuse your audience — even if the content is excellent.
Solution: Use simple frameworks:
“Point → Reason → Result”
“Challenge → Solution → Benefit”
“First, next, finally.”
Learn to guide your audience step by step.
- Directness
What’s considered respectful or appropriate varies by culture. In many English-speaking workplaces, being direct and concise is valued. Too much hedging or deference can come across as lacking confidence or conviction — even if you’re being polite. In Canada especially, achieving a balance of politeness, directness and clarity takes time and practice.
Solution: Learn phrases that express confidence and clarity without aggression. Phrases like:
- “I recommend that we…”
- “The data shows…”
- “Let’s move forward with…”
These show leadership and clarity without compromising respect.
- Audience
Ultimately, communication is about connection. The more you understand your audience — their expectations, background knowledge, and preferred style — the more effective you’ll be. What works with your team may not work with your executive leadership. What works with one culture may feel inappropriate to another.
Solution: Before speaking, ask yourself:
- Who am I talking to?
- What do they already know?
- What do they need from me?
- How much detail do I need to provide?
- What tone or level of formality is appropriate?
Fluency is a powerful foundation — but it’s not the finish line. Clarity, rhythm, pace, confidence, and structure are what take you from simply speaking English to being heard, understood, and respected. These are the missing pieces — and the good news is, they can be learned.\
With practice and the right guidance, you can develop a communication style that fits your professional context, reflects your identity, and delivers your message with impact.