Reflections

Communication Matters

Reflections

December 2017

Issue #112

Triangle Speech Services is the private, professional practice of Judith L. Bergman, a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP) who specializes in foreign accent and regional dialect modification and related communication skills. I offer customized, individual tutorials to corporate-sponsored and self-enrolled individuals who speak English fluently but with moderate to severe accents that create challenges and frustrations in the workplace.
Instead of sending you the typical "Holiday Greeting" special newsletter you have been receiving from your friends, colleagues, vendors and many others, we have decided to send you an invitation. We invite you to stop and give yourself time to reflect.

Reflections on Your Career

When you look in a mirror you see your reflection. When you look at your work situation right now in a thoughtful and non-judgmental way you are engaging in the act of reflection. Ask yourself these questions: Is my communication in English as proficient (clear, correct and convincing) as my technical skills? What skill set would I need to improve to be promoted to the next level?

Words of Wisdom

In many cultures, we honor our elders and respect their wisdom, gained from their life experience. What you may not realize is that those of us who ARE now considered "elders," (myself included) are always "on the alert" for words of wisdom to guide us as we move through our days. Here are some which I have collected in the last few months. I invite you to use some or all of them to help you in your personal and work related year-end reflections:

Perception is a choice I make.

Everything can be an opportunity for me to make a choice.

I can accept who I am in this moment so that I can become who I want to be in the next.

How can I find resources to help me turn obstacles into opportunities?

We invite you to click on Triangle Speech Services to visit our informative website.
Both managers and employees could ask, "What are the percentages of foreign-born employees in middle and upper management in my company who are non-native English speakers compared to the percentage who work in technical positions. What 'soft-skill' (communication, accent modification) training opportunities are available?"

Managers, forward this newsletter to your international "stars" who might be interested in accent modification as a professional training opportunity. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Judith L. Bergman M.A. CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist and Corporate Speech Trainer
Founder & Director of Triangle Speech Services