3 "Red Flag" Professional English Mistakes That Sabotage Your Authority

My professional background has taken me from the world of aviation, where clear communication is a

matter of safety, to the demanding environment of 5-star Swiss hotels. Combined with my 19 years as a dedicated teacher and tutor, I use these experiences to help professionals speak English with clarity and confidence. Here are three professional English mistakes that can trip up even the best communicators—and how to fix them.

Mistake 1: "Flying Blind" – Hearing What You Expect to Hear

Active listening is the most critical skill in any professional setting. Failing to listen is like a pilot flying blind—navigating by your own assumptions instead of by the facts. I learned this lesson the hard way in a previous career.

I had arranged a high-stakes meeting between my bosses and the owner of a major firm to pitch a new advertising strategy. Our point of contact was a bright, recent graduate. As a non-native English speaker, he was ambitious and eager to prove himself, but he was also expecting to broker a much larger business partnership.

During our prep calls, he heard what he wanted to hear, not what was actually being communicated. His English vocabulary was perfect, but his listening skills under pressure were not.

We all sat down in the boardroom. After 15 minutes of friendly small talk, I began our advertising pitch. The owner immediately stopped me, looked at the young man, and said, "Isn't this meeting about setting up a new business?"

The deal imploded on the spot. My bosses were devastated, and my future with that company was killed in that moment—all because one person wasn't truly listening. He wasn't a bad person; he was just flying blind. True active listening is more than just hearing words. It's about resisting the urge to frame someone's speech into the narrow realm of what you already understand. Your responsibility is to clarify what is being said, acknowledge it properly, and actively bridge the gap between their meaning and your understanding. In business, you cannot afford to navigate by assumptions; you must learn to listen for what is truly being communicated.

Mistake 2: "Losing Composure" – The Speed Contest vs. The Need for Clarity

Learning to speak at a measured pace is critical to projecting your natural voice. In professional settings, many ambitious people feel a pressure to respond instantly, as if competence in English is a speed contest. It is not.

While you can be judged by the speed of your understanding, it is never more important than replying with the correct, precise language. My experiences in both aviation and 5-star hospitality taught me a critical lesson: the first casualty of stress is clear communication. When you rush, you lose control of your meaning, and your words lose their impact.

Learning the "pace of control" in English is the key to making it a part of your success. A calm, deliberate pace signals confidence and authority. It gives you time to choose the right words, and it gives your listener time to fully understand your message. Rushing signals panic; a measured pace signals command.

Mistake 3: "Undermining Your Authority" – Stop Apologizing for Your Accent

The most common and self-sabotaging mistake I see advanced professionals make is apologizing for their own voice. It often sounds like this: Sorry for my accent, or Excuse my English before a presentation.

I see this constantly, particularly with my Thai students, who are often perfectionists. This desire for perfection is admirable, but in this case, it holds you back. Every time you apologize for your accent, you are undermining your own authority. You subconsciously tell your listener, "Don't take what I'm about to say too seriously."

After teaching thousands of students over my career, I tell every single one of them the same thing I am telling you now: Your accent is not a weakness. It is a sign of your journey. It is proof that you are bilingual. You have already done the hard work of mastering the grammar and vocabulary.

Your goal now is not perfection, but clarity. It is the ability to understand and be understood in any situation, from a formal boardroom to the most casual of settings. It’s about becoming truly fluent and adaptable. My job is to help you find the keys in English to make that happen.

Conclusion

These three mistakes have one thing in common: they are not about grammar, but about confidence and control. Mastering high-stakes communication means mastering yourself. If you are ready to move beyond the textbook and develop the situational awareness to handle any professional conversation in English, I invite you to book a free introductory call.