Less is more & minimalism: how these concepts can help you improve your business English for good
Look! Decluttering your desk or wardrobe every 6 months won’t necessarily help you improve your business English.
BUT…
Adopting some of the principles of minimalism will get you far! Let me explain.
Regardless of your point of view about minimalism as a lifestyle, there is a single principle that can work wonders when it’s about communicating in a language other than your native one.
The following phrase is worth gold! LESS IS MORE.
What does “less is more” mean?
Less is more is all about having just the essential things versus having too many superfluous things.
Simplicity is far better than elaborate embellishment.
At its core, “less is more” highlights (rather warns about) the possibility to overdo things, which in turn can ruin things through and through.
Instead of perfection, the final outcome is usually an exaggeration, going to the extremes, over the top.
Do you want that? Especially when it comes to speaking English at work, trying to sound like a native English speaker usually makes things worse, ambiguous, unclear, messy. 👎
How can you apply it when you speak or write in English?
Well, it’s a straightforward concept to keep in mind at all times & it has two dimensions.
✔️ using as few words as possible to get your message across. If you can say or write something simpler, with fewer but more clear and precise words and phrases, opt for that.
✔️ using appropriate words and phrases for each situation, avoiding too sophisticated ones. Especially in international work environments, where most people are non-native speakers, using words that only a few can understand is not the best option.
It’s about quality, not quantity.
And it’s far better and more mindful because it helps you fix your mindset and achieve things with the minimum effort, which is super effective.
When you try to impress people by using sophisticated words and complicated meanings, your brain will soon overload and burn out.
Plus, the final outcome is usually a disaster (=people misunderstanding or not understanding you at all!).
Less is more helps you be on point and to the point.
2 common misconceptions about minimalism & mindfulness
“Mindfulness is about yoga, I’m not into it!”
“I’m not fond of the minimalist approach because I’m too busy and can’t afford to do it!”
These are the two most common misconceptions about minimalism and mindfulness.
Although they are both buzzwords, few know what they really mean & how much they can help you in your daily life, including speaking a language other than your native one, like English.
Being narrow-minded limits your options. And this is usually what most professionals do. They stick to old-fashioned lessons hoping their English level will improve.
Look, you most probably have what it takes. I mean your English level is good enough. Still, you feel & you actually can’t speak English naturally & confidently at work.
Apart from the self-blockages that hold you back (like the fear of failure or inadequacy), refusing to adopt new approaches to improving your #businessEnglish will not get your far, either.
This is where mindfulness & minimalism combined come into play.
A winning combination for your business English
Minimalism is about “less is more”, fewer but essential things, quality over quantity. And mindfulness is about the “here and now”, not living on autopilot without being aware of what you do, why & how.
Here are a couple of ways you can combine these two concepts and boost your English skills sustainably.
✔️ Use fewer but more appropriate words when speaking or writing in English to reserve your mental energy and capacity
✔️ Opt for minimalism to get your message across more effectively without misunderstandings because you are always on point & to the point
✔️ Be present to manage your language skills and body language at the same time
✔️ Focus on the right things (how to convey your message, build trust & competence) rather than all the wrong things that drain your energy (past failures, bad possible outcomes etc.)
✔️ Leave out unnecessary things (like too sophisticated words & complicated meanings) & focus on the here and now to make you calmer & save you from frequent overloads that hold you back from performing at your natural best.
For extra help, I gathered the Top-5 ways to apply the “less is more” concept to your English. Discover them in the PDF Mini-guide below.
I’m here to tell you that you can overcome your self-blockages & nail your business English mindfully without losing it or yourself, simply by applying the “less is more” approach.
If you want gentle but focused support to help you get clarity on those particular challenges with English at work & resolve any mindset blockages, I’m here to support you all the way.
A Breakthrough Session might be your best chance to do it.
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Here at ProEnglish, this is my end goal: to empower non-native, highly-skilled professionals like you to claim what you deserve by breaking down the language blockage in a safe, kind and trustful environment.
I am Vera Daskalaki, your mindful English coach. You, being here and reading this, really means a lot to me. Let me know if anything above hits a nerve, and feel free to send me any questions.
If you want to talk about your goals and struggles in English and create a customised plan, just like I’ve done for dozens of professionals in the past, book a free Clarity Call by clicking below.
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