The Mindtools L&D Podcast

Bad English is not a problem

Heather Hansen · October 11, 2022

TEDX Speaker · Author · Leadership · Executive Coach · Life Coachin

Interview with Heather Hansen

Bad English is not a problem — Heather Hansen

Podcast: The Mindtools L&D Podcast

October 11, 2022

English is the world’s lingua franca, but the 400 million native-English speakers are a minority compared to the 2 billion people who learned English in a classroom. With these numbers, it’s no surprise that most people speak English ‘badly’. The problem is that, when people…

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Key topicsCommunication and diversityWith the increasing focus on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, effective communication has become more important than ever. Heather Hansen can speak to the challenges and opportunities of communicating across differences, and how to create a culture of belonging through communication. Cross-cultural communicationAccording to a recent survey, 70% of global executives believe that cross-cultural communication is critical to their organization's success. Heather Hansen can provide insights on how to navigate cultural differences and build effective communication strategies that bridge divides. Leadership communicationIn her book "Unmuted," Heather Hansen emphasizes the importance of leadership communication in creating inclusive and productive teams. She provides practical strategies for leaders to communicate with clarity, empathy, and authenticity, inspiring action and driving results. View all topics →

About Heather Hansen

TEDx Speaker and Author

200K+ TEDx talk viewsAmazon Bestselling and award-winning authorNASA External communication consultantAuthor Unmuted

With TEDX speaker and author Heather Hansen's expertise and guidance, you'll learn how to navigate the complexities of cross-cultural communication, overcome bias, and foster inclusive communication cultures that inspire action and drive results. Whether you're a seasoned executive or a rising star in your field, Unmuted will help you to unlock your full potential and become a more effective, confident, and inspiring communicator.

Heather's passion for communication and diversity is evident in everything she does, from her engaging TEDx talk to her popular books and training programs. Her unique approach to teaching and coaching has helped countless individuals and organizations to transform their communication cultures and achieve their goals.

If you're looking to improve your communication skills, build more inclusive teams, and become a more effective leader, Heather Hansen is the expert you need. With her guidance, you'll learn how to speak up, show up, and inspire action in a changing world. Don't miss the opportunity to learn from one of the most dynamic and inspiring speakers in the field of communication.

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About this episode

The problem is that, when people speak with a strange accent, pronounce words wrong, or use unusual grammar, we form an impression of their intelligence and capability that has nothing to do with their actual abilities. So this week on The Mind Tools L&D Podcast, we’re joined by author, consultant and TEDx speakerHeather Hansento explore the benefits of speaking English badly!

We discuss:

Why ‘accent bias’ is a problem How to become better listeners in a global setting How we can better communicate with others.

You can watch Heather’s TEDx talk at: ted.com/talks/heather_hansen_2_billion_voices_how_to_speak_bad_english_perfectly

Find out more about Heather at: globalspeechacademy.com/

You can also find Heather on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hansenheather/

In ‘What I Learned This Week’, Ross discussed Alan Rickman’s showbiz diaries: theguardian.com/film/2022/sep/24/alan-rickmans-secret-showbiz-diaries-harry-potter

Nahdia discussed research into accent bias in Britain: accentbiasbritain.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Accent-Bias-Britain-Report-2020.pdf

We opened today’s show with a clip from Mind Your Language.

For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtoolsbusiness.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.

Connect with our speakers

If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter:

Ross Garner - @RossGarnerMT Nahdia Khan - @NahdiaKhan Heather Hansen - @HeatherHansen

Guest: Heather Hansen