How thinking of FRIENDS will help your Business English…trust me, it works!

by Buffi
23 maart 2026
Blog

Let’s keep it classy, folks!

Last week I was so honored to share the stage with the brilliant Erin Meyer and be the closing speaker at the fabulous DenkProducties Intercultural Leadership event, teaching 500 people all about the subtleties of Business English….and where it can all go wrong…!

STAY CLASSY & PROFESSIONAL

One of the things people struggle with is how to disagree and keep communication going during a disagreement. That Dutch Directness will not keep things moving and grooving in the boardroom, trust me.

Remember the FRIENDS episode when they were moving the couch? What did they keep on shouting?

PIVOT!

This is so important when it comes to staying professional in English, and native speakers forget this, and often suffer disappointed or shocked looks from their counterparts, without knowing why.

These 4 steps will help you the next time:

Acknowledge someone else’s opinion – people want to feel seen and heard. (‘I can understand why you might feel that way.’)
PIVOT – this is our way of showing respect, and that a dissenting opinion is coming. (‘However….’)
Disagree– now you can state your disagreement (‘I see it differently….’)
Explain – so important! They might not share your opinion, but when you share WHAT it is based on, you’d be surprised at how much common ground you’ll find.

These 4 steps can make such a difference – let me know if they help you like they’ve helped thousands of my clients.

READY FOR MORE?

Want to go even further in your command of Business English – and discover the nuances that are not taught at school?

My new Mastermind is the only program that focuses on essential, professional communication tools you never got at school. But business today requires that you use them, naturally and accurately.

We kick off in May, and I have just a couple of spaces left. If you click on the link below, you can set up a free call with me to see if it’s the right fit for you.

Ready to work with a small, motivated group of women who want to move forward in their confidence, communication, and courage?

I got you!

Liefs,

Buffi

Click here to find out more!