Help Me To Wait For Your Timing And Purpose

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How to Be Patient When God Makes You Wait

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” – Psalm 27:14

What are you waiting on God for?

A husband or wife?

A baby of your own?

A prodigal son or daughter to come home?

Salvation for your loved ones?

Healing or good health?

Financial provision?

Or something else?

At times it can seem impossible to keep trusting that God will come through for you.

And, have the patience to not grow bitter and lose heart.

But many times God will give us a promise and make us wait to receive it.

Why?

Why can’t we name it and claim it?

Why does God sometimes change the plans we’ve made for ourselves?

Why Does God Make Us Wait?

“Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” – Micah 7:7

We know God created the entire universe in only 6 days. (See Genesis 1)

So why does He make us wait sometimes years before He answers our prayers?

You see, it all goes back to God’s sovereignty.

It’s not a matter of if God can answer a prayer.

It’s a no-brainer that God can do anything He wills to do. (Matthew 19:26)

It’s a matter of if it’s His will and His timing to answer a prayer.

In His perfect timing, God will answer your prayers and give you the desires of your heart.

But God has reasons for the doors He opens and closes when He opens and closes them. (Isaiah 55:8)

Reasons we may never fully understand until we get to heaven.

We have to remember He is creator God and in full and complete control of our lives.

So when He has you wait, you need to trust that He has a good reason for it.

If you rush the waiting process, you will actually miss out on what God wants to do in and through you during that time.

So the question then becomes, is what you want, what you are asking for, really all that good for you?

And, if the answer is yes. Do you trust God enough to have patience until He brings it to pass?

God is the Giver of Good Gifts—Good Gifts Worth the Wait!

If you ask God for some bread, do you really think He will give you a stone?

Of course not!

If He loves you enough to have His Son Jesus Christ literally die on the cross for you, “how much MORE will He freely give you all things?” (See Matthew 7:11)

I was praying for a husband and father for my son for 7 years!

I sometimes questioned God if it would ever happen to me. And, why it was taking so long.

I was so impatient and discontent, it actually made me sick sometimes!

But it did happen.

When I least expected it and fully surrendered it in my heart to the Lord.

God showed Himself as faithful and brought me a husband.

But the waiting period was tough!

Many nights I cried myself to sleep, and at times, got angry with God that He wasn’t answering my prayers when I wanted Him to.

But looking back in hindsight, I get it.

I see exactly why God had me wait. And, why He chose the person He chose for me.

Honestly, I thank God He didn’t answer my prayer to my will in my timing.

If my husband and I would have met and got married any sooner than we did, it would have been a disaster!

So trust that in the waiting period, God is working behind the scenes.

If He says “wait” it doesn’t mean “no”.

It just means, “not yet”.

He is doing a work deep within your heart you’d never experience otherwise.

His will is to grow you, not torture you.

To mold you, not destroy you…

To draw you closer to Him, not push you away…

And to prepare you for what He has planned for you, not give you something you’re not ready to receive.

David Defeated Goliath with a Small Stone, not a Bazooka!

“David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”’ – 1 Samuel 17:36

David had the faith and confidence to take on the giant, Goliath, when everyone else, including King Saul, was too afraid to.

Why?

David wasn’t the Rambo or Chuck Norris of the Old Testament.

He wasn’t driving an army tank or carrying a bazooka.

David only had a sling and 5 small stones!

In all reality, the odds were definitely against him.

So why did a little shepherd boy feel so empowered and so able to defeat a giant so much taller and stronger than him?

Because David knew he wouldn’t be fighting alone.

God prepared him for this very battle in the waiting period.

And because of that preparation, David had confidence that the God who helped him defeat the lion and the bear would also help him defeat this giant.

He remembered how God came through for him before.

So David knew God would come through for him again.

God will also prepare you for all that He has for you.

And that is not a process that happens overnight.

That is why waiting on His perfect timing is so important.

Could you imagine what David would have felt if God gave him Goliath before he was ready?

Before he had experienced firsthand God’s perfect track record of faithfulness?

So if you have been praying about something and God is telling you to wait, understand that this time in between is necessary.

Have faith that God is working and will answer the cries of your heart when the timing is perfect.

Are there any lions, bears, or giants before you?

Then ask God to help you endure and overcome them just He did for David.

Remember that He promises to never leave or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

God promises to defeat the enemy and deliver you. (Jeremiah 1:19)

He promises to answer you. (1 John 5:14-15)

And, God promises to strengthen you as you wait on Him to come through for you. (Isaiah 40:31)

How Past Prayers Can Help You Wait on God—Today

I to think of answered prayers as modern day miracles or “God moments.”

A God moment is something only God can do.

It’s a time in your life that you’ve seen God answer a specific request or fulfill a personal promise to you.

These should be written down in your journal or on little papers in a blessings jar.

So when new trials and tests come, you can look back and see what God’s already done.

Again, it was when David remembered how God gave him victory over the lion and the bear, that He was confident he’d have victory over Goliath.

If God was faithful before you can be sure He will be faithful again.

My husband and I are now praying, and waiting, for God to bless us with a baby.

And after a couple miscarriages so far, sometimes the waiting is so hard.

But because I’ve chosen to trust God and wait on His perfect timing, I have peace and contentment.

Looking back I saw God was faithful in bringing me my husband.

So I know He will be faithful in bringing us another child if it’s His perfect will for us.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

Remembering what God has already done for you, will increase your faith in Him.

It will reassure your heart that if He was willing and able to answer your prayer yesterday.

Then He will be willing and able to answer your prayers again and again.

Key Takeaway

Think about it.

If you didn’t have to wait a whole year until Christmas morning to open presents, it wouldn’t be as exciting.

You wouldn’t have anything to look forward to.

The same goes when you have to wait on God to answer your prayers.

Waiting gives you something to hope for, pray for, and look to God alone for.

So if you’re in a season of waiting—don’t lose heart.

And don’t give up on God.

Continue pouring out your hearts desires to Him and trusting that if it’s in His perfect will, then He will bring it to pass.

Remember, He is your heavenly Father and knows what’s best for you.

He has good gifts in store for your life.

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to you from God”. (See James 1:17)

Looking back, I’ve learned to thank Him for all of those times He didn’t answer my prayers the way I wanted Him to.

Because His plans for me were so much better than what I had originally planned for myself.

The Bible says our hearts are deceitfully wicked above all else! (See Jeremiah 17:9)

And many times we’re so easily influenced and deceived.

That’s why it’s so important to surrender everything to God so you don’t make a wrong choice or go the wrong way.

Perhaps what you want so badly will actually make you miserable or draw you away from God.

Or maybe it is God’s perfect will, but not His perfect timing.

Trust me, God’s perfect will at the wrong time can be just as bad as His imperfect will at any time.

You have to purpose in your heart to wait for His absolute best.

And believe by faith that He will make all things beautiful in His perfect timing.” (Ecc. 3:11)

Remember, He has never let you down and He never will.

“Ask and believeYou’re gonna seeThe hand of God in every little thing

Don’t you be afraid

Of giants in your way
With God you know that anything’s possible
So step into the fight
He’s right there by your side
The stones inside your hand might be small
But watch the giants fall…”

Francesca Battistelli – “Giants Fall”

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Study Verses: 1 Samual 1:8-20, Isaiah 55:8, 1 Corinthians 2:9

Источник: //ccsouthbay.org/blog/when-god-makes-you-wait

7 Clever Ways to Say “I Look Forward to Hearing from You”

Help Me To Wait For Your Timing And Purpose

You sent an important email and you’re eager to get a reply. You end your message with “I look forward to hearing from you.” Did you make an email faux pas?

Is It Okay to Use “Looking Forward to Hearing From You”?

Whether or not to use “I look forward to hearing from you” or “I’m looking forward to hearing from you” depends on the context and purpose of your letter.

Pros

It’s friendly and familiar.
It lets the recipient know that you’re hoping for a response.

Cons

It’s a bit canned. Everyone uses it, so your recipient might ignore it.
In certain contexts, it can come across as passive-aggressive code for “Get back to me, or else.”
It puts you in the waiting position, unable to move forward until you hear from the other person.

Here’s a tip: Whether you’re writing an email, creating a presentation, or just sending a quick tweet, Grammarly can help! Try Grammarly’s app to make your writing cleaner and more impressive.

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Although plenty of business emails end with this phrase, there are better options. At best, “Looking forward to hearing from you” is invisible—a standard closing phrase that recipients tend to disregard.

(When was the last time you read “I look forward to hearing from you” and thought Gee, how nice! I think I’ll respond immediately? Right. You see what we’re saying.

) At worst, it’s presumptuous and even a bit snarky.

RELATED: How to End an Email: 9 Best and Worst Email Sign-Offs

1 Use a call-to-action

Good email communication eliminates guesswork for the recipient. The problem with “I look forward to hearing from you” is that it removes you from the active role and puts you in a subservient one. Now, you’re just waiting passively for a response rather than moving the email thread forward, and your recipient may not even know what you want from them. No bueno.

Instead, prompt your recipient to make a specific move. Here are a few examples:

I plan to hand off this graphic to our design team by Friday. Would you please send me your feedback by Wednesday?

Let’s meet at Emilio’s for lunch. Does 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday work for you?

Would you me to send you our research when it’s finalized?

Please pass this info along to your teammates. Thanks!

Good email communication eliminates guesswork for the recipient.

2 I’m eager to receive your feedback

If you don’t have a hard deadline (“Get back to me by Wednesday”), closing your email with a request for feedback is perfectly appropriate. Just keep in mind that this sort of closing is a bit softer than requesting input by a specific date. It works best if you’re hoping for a reply, but you’re not necessarily expecting it.

A more casual request would be something , “I value your feedback, so let me know what you think!”

READ: The 15 Most Common Email Mistakes of 2017

3 I appreciate your quick response

It’s okay to use this alternative when you want an answer as soon as possible, but you don’t have a time constraint. It gives the recipient a bit more of a nudge than “I look forward to hearing from you.”

This is another closing that can sound pushy in the wrong context. If your email has a friendly tone overall, then the sign-off will sound friendly. In a more business setting, it could seem more a stern warning: “I expect a reply.”

4 Always happy to hear from you

This one says “Hey, my inbox is always open!” It’s breezy and informal, and it works well for recipients you have an ongoing dialog with. This closing doesn’t insist on an answer, so use it only when you’d welcome a response but you don’t need one.

Here’s a tip:Which one is grammatically correct: “I look forward to hearing from you” or “I’m looking forward to hearing from you”?

They’re both correct, but one of them uses more active language. Am looking is weaker sentence construction—looking requires an auxiliary (helper) verb, (am), in order to make sense. I look forward is a better choice.

Sometimes, you need a reply only when the status of a project changes. In these cases, it’s appropriate to end with something “Keep me informed of any updates.” Go ahead and be as insistent as you need to be. If it’s critical that you receive project updates, say so.

You’re not messing around here. You need a reply yesterday. Save this closing for when your recipient has delayed and you need to be firm and no-nonsense.

But be aware that this closing conveys a serious, even angry, tone. When you use it, you’re doing the written equivalent of glaring at someone while tapping your foot and saying, “Well? I’m waiting.” Use it sparingly.

Unless, of course, you work in the collections department.

In less formal emails, “Write soon” is a cheerful sign-off that lets the correspondent know you’d to hear from them without actually demanding action. Use it for friendly communication, such as writing to a close friend or relative. Just keep it your business communication; it’s far too casual.

Источник: //www.grammarly.com/blog/i-look-forward-to-hearing-from-you/

7 Important Bible Verses About Purpose

Help Me To Wait For Your Timing And Purpose

Sometimes we can be so busy about our lives that we forget the purpose behind them. We are driven by the demands of life and not realizing that God always has a greater purpose. His purposes not only encompass our lives, but the lives of those around us—at home, school, work, and community. It’s important to know and live out the following Bible verses about purpose:

God has a purpose for everyone

“But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth” (Exodus 9:16).

Pharaoh mistakenly thought that he was in control. However, God put him in the place of being an Egyptian leader for His purpose. God has a purpose for everyone—including those who resist Him. Ultimately God will get the glory no matter the person because He is the Giver of purpose in every life whether they live for Him or not.

God’s purpose can’t be undone

“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).

Once God has established His purposes for our lives—no one can change it. What door God has shut, no man can open and what door God has opened, no man can shut.

People will wear themselves out in efforts to make a situation turn badly for believers, yet God will still ultimately accomplish His plans.

Christians can take courage that He is working everything for our good even the most difficult life situations.

God’s purpose is the one that lasts

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).

The lives of men and women are but a vapor; however, God’s purposes can be fulfilled throughout multiple generations. We can make our plans and set out to see them accomplished, but if we don’t pray and seek God’s direction—we could find ourselves drifting in an ocean of problems without a sail. Every plan should begin and end with God in mind first.

Every person is born with purpose

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out” (Proverbs 20:5).

All people are made in the image of God. Each of us are born with a purpose and calling that we can discover or completely miss. The influence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers gives us insight to His purposes for us. We find peace and courage when we sense the confirmation of the Spirit that we are in the right place at the right time of our designated calling.

God fulfills His purpose for believers

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13).

God’s greater purpose has to always be on the forefront of our minds. We may be offered employment, school, and marriage opportunities that may not fit in God’s purpose.

This takes wisdom on our part to wait on God’s peace before making presumptuous decisions that may have lifetime ramifications.

There’s great joy in the discovery of His purpose when we trust in Him rather than on our feelings or pressures from other people.

God works through all situations to fulfill His purpose

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Hard times can make it difficult to see God’s purpose especially when we only feel pain and grief. Many times we don’t want to be reminded that God is working our difficulty for our good. However if we practice living our lives with the mindset that God is working things out for us, we can have smoother transition of accepting this truth in the hard places.

God has a greater purpose in saving us

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace” (2 Timothy 1:9).

Salvation is only the beginning for Christians as we were saved to do good works in the name of Jesus. The promise of eternity and living free from the bondage of sin is a wonderful gift of salvation. These promised blessings free us up to be about God’s business every day. We need to start our mornings with a prayer asking God to reveal to us His purposes for that day.

Perfect Purposes

The Lord and His purposes are perfect, but we are not. We are assailed by doubts and fears that many times keep us from living out the purposes that He has established for us.

However, we can overcome this by consistently reading and studying His word so that our faith will be made stronger day by day.

As we learn of God and pray to Him regularly, we become more embolden to accomplish great purposes in His name.

Take a look at this great article: 5 Ways to Follow God’s Plan for you Life

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as: Bible Verses, God's plan for your life, God's purpose, God's Will, purpose

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Источник: //www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/7-important-bible-verses-about-purpose/

How to Wait (For Anything) Well

Help Me To Wait For Your Timing And Purpose

It’s a reality I try to ignore most of the time: Life is full of waiting. I’m not talking about the kind of waiting that bothers but doesn’t overtake me: the time in the grocery store line, the time at the post office, or even the miles crawling through construction. I mean the deep soul waiting, the kind that threatens to undo me with its consistency and pain.

We all know this type of waiting — the type that causes our hearts to ache and our minds to unravel:

The wait for a spouse who hasn’t yet materialized.
The wait for a job that will fulfill and not exhaust us.
The wait for a desired child when our womb is barren.
The wait for stability when our mind betrays us with anxieties and depression.
The wait for reconciliation in a relationship that still strains with hurt.
The wait for healing in a body still weak and broken.

In our own ways and through our own experiences, all of us know the deep yearning that waiting births in us — the ways that waiting makes us question our purpose and our dreams and our hopes. Left to linger for months and years, waiting can become a place of sorrow, even of fear.

So how do we wait well? How do we learn to live in these seasons of waiting — knowing we have no clear end in sight — with hope? Even with joy?

I’ve waited for healing from a stubborn medical condition for over twenty years, and I’ve shared my story on the page: There’s no easy answer. But here are three ways I’ve found to wait well, no matter how long we’re waiting for what we deeply desire:

1. We wait well by acknowledging our desire rather than ignoring it

In the long seasons of waiting for the things we can’t always control — a spouse, a child, healing, wholeness — one of the best ways to wait well is to embrace the longing rather than run from it. It seems counterintuitive, to accept what we can’t (yet) have, but it’s part of living wholeheartedly rather than locking our hearts away.

This is because waiting unlocks our truest desires, and we can only uncover those if we sit in the waiting long enough. We might truly want a spouse, but beneath that desire may be the deeper desire of wanting to be loved for who we really are — the longing for acceptance and delight from another person.

That’s a good desire, but it won’t be ultimately satisfied through a wedding or a significant other. No single person on earth can meet that longing completely. But the waiting can help us reach a place of being willing to see where else we can have that longing met — in friendships, in community, in God.

We can’t usually create the answer to what we’re waiting for. We can’t make a husband or a child appear thin air. But we can let the waiting show us what we want most of all, and from that place we can pursue that longing with an open heart and a hopeful spirit.

2. We wait well by choosing character over immediacy

One of the hardest tests that waiting offers to us is the test of character. If we aren’t getting what we want when we want it, how do we respond? Who are we when life is hard and unbending?

Waiting well requires choosing the less-traveled path of character over immediate gratification; it means pursuing integrity rather than a quick fix.

It means doing excellent work in your current position and refusing to cut corners, even if it feels nobody notices you and your dream job is a million miles away.

It means learning how to love and support your friends when they’re having the engagement parties and baby showers and you feel unseen. It means choosing to be thankful for what we do have rather than becoming bitter about what we don’t.

This is where the rubber meets the proverbial road, and if we allow the painful seasons of waiting to shape us into women who are refined under pressure, we will be closer to becoming the truest and most whole versions of ourselves that we can be, no matter what happens in our waiting seasons.

It seems counterintuitive, to accept what we can’t (yet) have, but it’s part of living wholeheartedly rather than locking our hearts away.

3. We wait well by discovering the gift of resiliency in ourselves

When we live in the tension of longing for something but not yet seeing it fulfilled, we can ultimately respond in two ways: in hope or in despair.

It might not feel a choice, but it is, and it’s one that is always before us: Will we give in to the fear that what we most dearly want might never happen, or will we embrace the life that we do have and plant our feet in the garden of hope?

If we choose despair, every day will feel drudgery, walking through waist-high sand. But if we choose hope — if we choose to embrace this life we’ve been given with gratitude and love, and if we choose to believe that what is ahead can be far better than we might imagine — we will find within ourselves a resiliency that can’t be bought or manufactured.

We will find that what we have, right now, is enough — because we know our worth and purpose in our hearts, no matter what it is we’re waiting for.

Are you waiting for something right now? Where does your hope come from?

Images via Yuri Orozco Rivera

Источник: //darlingmagazine.org/wait-anything-well/

6 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Learning Business English

Help Me To Wait For Your Timing And Purpose

By Sarah Li Cain

Your palms are sweaty. You re-adjust your tie, waiting for the meeting to start.

When everyone arrives, you start your presentation. You are so worried about mispronouncing words that you barely speak loud enough for your audience to hear.

After your talk, you worry about whether people understood your message and if your boss is still considering you for that promotion.

Does this sound familiar? Perhaps you are stressed by conference calls in English, writing reports or mountains of email?

The fact that you are reading this means that you are working hard at improving your Business English skills, but there are 6 common mistakes that might be holding you back.

Are you making one of these crucial mistakes?

1. Use Tried and True Methods

There is a wealth of resources out there, so why stress yourself out and spend so much time trying to craft the perfect email or presentation when you can use a template?

Using a template doesn’t mean that you are being lazy. In fact, using what has worked for you and others in the past makes you more effective.

Instead of worrying about the format of your email or presentation, spend that time editing your work to make sure everything is grammatically correct.

Here’s an example to help with your emails. Feel free to copy and paste it into your next email:

1) State the purpose of the email.	Example 1:Hello Alice. I am writing to you because I need your help with typing up a press release. Example 2: Hello Bill. I would to schedule that meeting to finalize our presentation to Mr. Smith.
2) Provide details of what you need done. Make sure that you convey concisely all the details needed. To make it clearer for the reader, separate items with bullets, and write subheadings for different topics.	Example 1:Here are the steps I need you to take in order to complete this task:– Please read over the notes I have attached to this email.– Please expand upon these points into three paragraphs or less.– There are two people you need to talk to get quotes for this press release. The names are in the notes I attached.– Once completed, please email me the press release in a Word document. Example 2: I’ve included some times I am available below:Wednesday: 11:30-12:00 or 2:30-3:00Thursday: 9:00-10:00 or 1:00-2:30Friday: 10:00-11:00 Please pick a time that is most convenient for you. If none of these work, please let me know when you are free and I’ll try to arrange something.
3) Write a conclusion for your message. This is where you write what you would to happen. Review any actions and next steps required on the reader’s part, and any key points needed.	Example 1:Please email me the completed press release by next week Friday (May 24). We have a strict deadline so I would appreciate it if you could get this to me on time. Example 2: Please let me know by this afternoon so I can schedule the meeting.
4) Include your email signature if your email program doesn’t automatically do it for you. Make sure that it includes all information such as your full name, contact information, and position in the company.	Example:Sincerely,Bob SmithCEO of ABC Company Inc.123 Apple Road, New York City, USATel: (123) 456-7890 Email: [email protected]

Example subject lines for your emails

Your email subject should include the topic and purpose of the email. The topic should come first, followed by purpose separated by two dashes.

Responding to a request: When replying to a message, be as specific as possible about the action. The purpose should include the words “the [action or item] you requested”.
Example: “Company Logo – The edit you requested”
Seeking help or action: the purpose should include words such as “action requested”. Be as specific as possible when work should be completed.
Example: “Edit Company Logo – Action Requested: complete by 8/30”
Giving information: Since no action is required by the receiver, you can simply use the words “please review”, or “No action required”.
Example: “New Company Logo – No action required”

Template for your business presentations:

Start your presentation with talking about who you are, the purpose of the presentation, the main areas you will be presenting, and why the subject is important to the audience.
In the main part of your presentation, present points to support the main areas. Make sure you explain difficult concepts such as new terminology. To make it easier in you and your audience, try to explain concepts by comparing it to something familiar (such as an analogy) and present all statistics as visually as possible.
For your conclusion, tie everything together by summarizing your main points and explain the importance of your presentation again, then ask them to take some sort of action.
If time permits, have a question and answer period. You can use this as an opportunity to clarify or expand on points you may have missed.

For using English on the telephone, here is a slideshow with some template phrases you can use:

2. Focus on Effective Communication Skills

“The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
– George Bernard Shaw

How you say something is just as important as what you say – if not more important!

Even if English isn’t your first language, it is still important to develop excellent communication skills in order to convey your message clearly.

Who would your clients rather listen to: someone who speaks softly and mispronounce most of the words during their presentation, or someone who stands tall, speaks confidently and fluently?

While it is important to learn new vocabulary and different expressions, you need to practice in order to master them.

Here are 5 ways you can improve your communication skills:

Volunteer to do presentations or other activities where you have a chance to interact with English speaking colleagues.
Actively participate in conference calls or meetings to try out new material you learned.
When giving a presentation, practice what you have to say well in advance. Check your body language in front of a mirror. Practice speaking out loud. Make sure you understand how to pronounce every single word.
Make eye contact and listen carefully when speaking with colleagues.
Join Toastmasters or other organizations where you can practice speaking in front of others.

3. Ask for Feedback

No matter what stage you are in learning English, there is always room to improve. Asking for feedback from your teacher or colleagues will help you learn from your mistakes. Most people are more than happy to give you constructive feedback, including your peers.

If you are not comfortable asking for feedback, try asking a trusted friend first for some comments about a recent email you wrote, or ask them to listen to a presentation you will give.

Build up the courage to ask your teacher or your colleagues one-on-one until you feel comfortable asking questions in front of a group of people.

Consistently seeking feedback at work can be seen by your boss as a sign that you are ambitious and goal driven. This might help you score that promotion that you’ve always wanted!

4. Don’t Take Learning Too Seriously

“That is the way to learn the most, that when you are doing something with such enjoyment that you don’t notice that the time passes.”
– Albert Einstein, letter to his son

The more you enjoy and relax into the process of learning, the easier and more enjoyable it will be. You will be more motivated to learn and improve on what you already know.

Some tips:

Incorporate English into your hobbies. For example, if you building model airplanes, try to construct one using instructions in English. Join an English-speaking group. You could even read fashion magazines, or watch football shows in English.
Learn to laugh at your own mistakes.
Take some time to practice English by watching comedy shows
Set boundaries, such as only studying during scheduled sessions and not bringing study materials with you on vacation.

5. The World is Your Classroom

There is a world of possibilities to learn English outside of a classroom. Learning English in the real world is a better way to be exposed constantly to new ideas and concepts.

Here are some ideas about other places where you can learn Business English:

Read industry specific blogs and trade magazines
Follow colleagues or other relevant people on (for example you can find us at @TJTaylorEnglish)
Network at industry conferences
Socialize with your international colleagues

6. Develop Effective Study Habits

Many Business English students haven’t stepped foot inside a classroom for a while, so it is natural to forget good study habits.

The more you understand and apply good study habits, the greater your chances of success.

What would you rather do: study for many hours and get frustrated at the lack of progress, or study effectively for a few hours and make real progress in your English?

Here are some tips on developing effective study habits:

Create a space specifically for you to study: Make sure your space is used only for studying and has no distractions. Keep your desk clean and find a comfortable chair. Associating a space in your house that is solely for study helps you mentally prepare and focus.
Schedule a time to study – and stick to it: Learning to prioritize and manage your time is crucial. Block off time in your agenda, phone or calendar so others can’t schedule meetings with you. If you communicate to them why this is important to you, they will be supportive and respect your time. Post your study schedule where everyone can see it so they know not to disturb you.
Take frequent breaks: It is important to give your brain a rest so you don’t tire or stress yourself out from studying for long periods of time. Something as simple as stretching for 5 minutes, taking a walk or even eating a snack can help.
Start with the most difficult topic: Harder materials usually mean that these are the areas you need to focus on. Also, your brain is still fresh at the beginning of your study session. Work towards easier material at the end.
Take care of your health: A lack of sleep means lower concentration and and you will remember less of what you studied.
Focus on quality over quantity: Studying more does not mean that you will learn more. Also, studying in small batches is more effective than sitting for long periods of time. Work on practicing your English for 5-10 minutes every day.

Ready to Get Started?

If you follow these 6 tips, you will start to notice a huge difference in the way you interact in English with colleagues and clients.

You will appear more confident in front of others and become more active and visible in your company. You may even gain some valuable professional relationships.

Remember, to put you on the path to success: