1. English Guide: How to impress
your boss in 5 days
So, you have decided to take your career to the next level? And now you’re looking for the
smartest way to achieve that.
There are no shortcuts in this world but there ARE some good tips and advice that will help get you
there faster!
In this day and age as well as knowing how to behave in an International business environment is
absolutely crucial.
My latest guide offers you useful English phrases and important tips that will help you in any
International business situation. Not to mention how they will impress your boss.
February 2012
Created by Mr. Miguel Cortes | Top Management Coordinator
Copyright © 2012

2. How to impress your boss in 5 days
Table of Content:
• Monday
Dress to impress!
• Tuesday
Convincing presentation English
• Wednesday
Professional Business Communication
• Thursday
Efficient e-mail English
• Friday
English a boss loves to hear!
Monday
Getting dressed for success!
First impressions last. You want to be taken seriously and look good at work. Here
are some universal business fashion tips that will help you start off on the right
foot.
MEN
A man should dress formally for presentations or meetings with important clients
and colleagues. A classically cut business suit is a safe bet. He should wear a long
sleeved shirt and a discreetly patterned tie, both of which should coordinate with
the suit and not be too colorful. Shoes should be dark and well-polished, and
accompanied by a belt of a matching color a classic business look.
WOMEN
A good business look for a woman is a suit or a well tailored dress accompanied by
a jacket. She should also wear hose and closed toe shoes. It is wise for the heel
not to exceed one and a half inches. You want to be able to move comfortably and
confidently in front of clients or important colleagues. Makeup and accessories
should tastefully coordinate with the rest of the outfit. The devil is in the detail...
Created by Mr. Miguel Cortes | Top Management Coordinator djfrance1@yahoo.fr Copyright © 2012

3. How to impress your boss in 5 days
WHAT COLOR SHOULD I WEAR?
Choose a color to suit your goals and ambition:
• Black suggests authority and seriousness. It is a dignified choice that
announces your presence, but can be intimidating if overused.
• White symbolizes purity, cleanliness, and sophistication. It works well as a
shirt. Women can pull it off as a suit, but men; steer clear!
• Grey offers you a dignified and conservative authority. If it’s too light, you could
end up looking a bit boring.
• Navy Blue clothing demands respect. It also conveys a feeling of loyalty,
integrity, and dependability.
• Brown symbolizes reliability, and tends to make people feel comfortable.
However, it could come across a bit too safe.
• Pastels are soothing colors, signaling friendliness while discouraging
aggression.
Created by Mr. Miguel Cortes | Top Management Coordinator djfrance1@yahoo.fr Copyright © 2012

4. How to impress your boss in 5 days
Tuesday
Convincing presentation English
Being successful in the business world requires confidence. But when you’re doing
business in English it’s easy to sound and feel unsure. Getting the grammar and
vocabulary right is tough enough!
Even if you’re not sure of the words, you
can still sound like you know what you’re
talking about. The trick is in how you start
you sentences. Prepare for your next
meeting or presentation with the following
phrases and see the difference!
Starting a meeting/presentation
• “The purpose of this meeting is…”
• “Thanks for joining me here today to discuss...”
Stating your opinion (positive or negative)
• “I recommend/I think we should...”
• “In my opinion we should...”
• “I’m positive that/I really feel that…”
• “Unfortunately I see it differently/I’m afraid I can’t agree”
Speeding up a discussion
• “Let’s move on to the next point…”
Recovering from offending someone
• “If I seemed sharp a few moments ago, be sure that it was only due to my
determination to make this work…”
Ask questions
• “What concerns do you have?”
• “What’s holding you back?”
• “What’s stopping you from signing up today?”
Best of luck for your next business meeting or presentation!
Created by Mr. Miguel Cortes | Top Management Coordinator djfrance1@yahoo.fr Copyright © 2012

5. How to impress your boss in 5 days
Wednesday
Secrets to Business Communication revealed
Being able to build good relationships is absolutely crucial to your success in the
business world.
Apart from being able to speak good English there are some other important
things to consider:
• Be professional. People will take you more seriously if you are well-groomed.
This also applies to your body language. Always make eye contact and keep a
good posture, or you could be perceived as lacking confidence.
• Be personal. People like to be called by their names, so remember other
people’s names and they will remember you. Remember that business is about
building relationships, it does matter!
• Be formal but not stiff. If you are too formal, people won’t be at ease around
you. If you act too casually, people may not take you seriously. Aim for the middle
ground.
• Be patient. Lossing your temper at work won’t help and will just complicate
things. Show that you can handle stress and your emotions; people will take
notice and give you more responsibility in the future.
• Be open. Communication is a two way street. Listen to other people’s opinions,
don’t interrupt people when they are speaking, and don’t ignore criticism.
These tips combined with a well spoken English is a guaranteed recipe for
success!
Created by Mr. Miguel Cortes | Top Management Coordinator djfrance1@yahoo.fr Copyright © 2012

6. How to impress your boss in 5 days
Thursday
English for e-mails
E-mail is perhaps the most common form of communication today between
friends, colleagues and with clients. It is convenient, fast and cheap. But how good
are your e-mail English skills? And how can you make them better?
Below are some professional e-mail writing tips:
Keep it short and simple
The most important thing is to be clear and to the point. Say things as directly as
you can, without being rude of course. Keep in mind that e-mails that take up
more than one full screen usually aren’t read right away.
Starting an email
Start the email with a greeting to help create a friendly but business-like tone.
If you have communicated with the person previously and he/she is at a similar
level to you, then using the other person’s name would be appropriate.
Example: Dear John
When in doubt, use the person’s surname/family name together with a title.
Example: Dear Mr. Smithson, Dear Ms Stringer
Be correct but not too formal.
Action
Any action that you want the recipient to take should be clearly described in a
polite way. Use expressions such as:
”Please...”, “Kindly”, “Could you...” or “I would be grateful if...”
Ending emails
End the message in a polite way. Common endings are:
”Yours sincerely”, “Best regards”, “Best wishes”, “Regards”
If you did not put a comma after the greeting at the beginning of the message,
then do not put a comma after the ending either.
Created by Mr. Miguel Cortes | Top Management Coordinator djfrance1@yahoo.fr Copyright © 2012

7. How to impress your boss in 5 days
Always include your contact information at the end of your email.
Your recipient will appreciate quick access to your company name, address, phone
and fax number.
Saying it in a formal way...
• We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March 1, 2009...
• At the present time we have no plans to...
• Due to the fact that we...
• Henceforth, we should...
Less formal but still professional...
• Thank you for your letter of March 1, 2009.
• Currently we have no plans to...
• Because we...
• From now on, we should...
Created by Mr. Miguel Cortes | Top Management Coordinator djfrance1@yahoo.fr Copyright © 2012

8. How to impress your boss in 5 days
Friday
English a Boss loves to hear!
So you’ve landed a much-desired job in an International company, but every time
you need to communicate with your boss in English, you freeze up. Fear not!
Exhibit the following qualities and use the corresponding phrases – and you’ll be
the boss’ favorite in no time!
Enthusiasm
• “I’d be happy to do that.”
• “Is there anything else you’d like me to do?”
• “My pleasure”
Support
• “Good point!”
• “I couldn’t agree with you more”
• “That’s exactly how I feel”
Politeness
• “Please, thank you.”
• “Excuse me for interrupting.”
• “Please get back to me as soon as possible.”
• “Thanks for your help!”
Efficiency
• “I’ll get right on that.”
• “I’ll get that to you by 6p.m.”
Imagination
• “I was thinking that it might be a good idea to?”
• “Why don’t we? “
Created by Mr. Miguel Cortes | Top Management Coordinator djfrance1@yahoo.fr Copyright © 2012

9. How to impress your boss in 5 days
And lastly..........Learn to say NO!
Say yes to the things that matter most to your boss. Your boss will appreciate that
you focus on the right things.
Remember that your boss doesn’t always know everything you’ve got on your
plate. Ask your boss about priorities. Let him or her know that you want to make
sure you finish what is most important, which will probably mean
saying no to some of the less important projects.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Now you know how to use English confidently in a professional environment AND
how to impress your boss!
Oh, one last tip...don’t forget the most important rule when working in an
international environment.
RESPECTING DIFFERENT CULTURES
Always remember and respect that different cultures have different business
etiquette, customs and ethics.
Doing international business successfully means being able to communicate
properly as well as understand and accept other ways of doing business.
Good luck and all the best for the future!
Created by Mr. Miguel Cortes | Top Management Coordinator djfrance1@yahoo.fr Copyright © 2012