5 Things to Stop Doing If You Want to Speak English Confidently

Why Confidence Feels So Hard

Have you ever left a meeting thinking, “I knew exactly what to say, but I couldn’t say it in English”?

That moment of frustration—when thoughts move faster than words—is common among non-native professionals.
You’ve studied English for years. You know the grammar. You understand 90% of what others say.
Yet when it’s your turn to speak, anxiety takes over.

The problem isn’t your English level. It’s your mindset and habits.
Let’s break down five things you need to stop doing if you want to finally speak English with confidence and ease.

1️⃣ Stop Chasing Perfect Pronunciation

Perfection is an illusion that drains your energy.
Many professionals believe they must “sound native” to be credible—but that’s not true.
What really matters is clarity: can people easily understand you?

When you focus on every sound, you disconnect from meaning.
Confidence begins when you accept that your accent tells your story—it doesn’t limit it.

Example 1:
A software engineer from Brazil once told me he avoided speaking in meetings because of his accent. I asked him to present a short demo anyway. Afterward, the product manager said, “I understood every word—and your enthusiasm made the feature sound exciting.” His clarity and confidence mattered far more than his pronunciation.

Example 2:
A cybersecurity analyst I coached wanted to sound “British.” After weeks of practicing vowels, she realised it didn’t make her more confident—it made her anxious. When she switched to focusing on rhythm and stress, her speech became clearer and smoother.
Accent neutralisation isn’t confidence—intelligibility is.

What to Do Instead

1. Record yourself speaking.

2. Listen for clarity, not accent.

3. Identify words where your rhythm drops or syllables blur.

4. Practise those, then move on.

The goal is to sound like you—just the confident version.

2️⃣ Stop Counting Words

Vocabulary doesn’t equal fluency.
You can know 10,000 words and still freeze in conversation.
Fluency is not about how many words you know, but how easily you can use the ones you already know.

Example 1:
In a project meeting, a developer wanted to describe a delay but got stuck searching for a “better” word than late. He lost his train of thought. Instead, he could have said, “We’re running slightly behind schedule, but the fix is in progress.” Simple, natural, and professional.

Example 2:
An IT consultant I worked with memorised advanced terms like ubiquitous computing and cross-functional synergies. But when clients asked simple questions, he hesitated. Once he focused on practical phrases—“Let’s double-check that,” “Can we clarify the requirements?”—he started speaking faster and more naturally.

What to Do Instead

Learn phrases, not isolated words.
Expressions like “as far as I know,” “from my perspective,” or “let’s move on” help your ideas flow smoothly.

Phrases are your conversational building blocks—useful, flexible, and easy to recall under pressure.

3️⃣ Stop Avoiding Mistakes

Fear of mistakes is the number-one confidence killer.
You hesitate, second-guess, and stay silent—all because you don’t want to “sound stupid.”
But here’s the truth: mistakes are data. They show where you need to grow.

Every confident speaker you admire once made hundreds of them.

Example 1:
During a client presentation, I accidentally said, “We did an error” instead of “We made an error.” I corrected myself, smiled, and continued. Nobody cared. The client still approved the proposal because my message was clear.

Example 2:
A QA lead from India I coached used to overapologise for small errors. I asked her to replace “Sorry for my bad English” with “Thanks for your patience while I explain.” Her meetings instantly became smoother—and her colleagues started listening more closely.

What to Do Instead

When you make a mistake, breathe, rephrase, and keep going.
You can even use “rescue phrases” like:

• “Let me put it another way.”

• “What I mean is…”

• “In other words…”

These phrases buy you time and show composure. Remember, confidence isn’t perfection—it’s recovery.

4️⃣ Stop Trying to Understand Every Word

If you try to catch every single word in a fast conversation, your brain will overload.
Native speakers use idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang all the time. You’ll waste energy decoding instead of engaging.

Understanding the key message is enough to participate.

Example 1:
During a stand-up, a colleague said, “Let’s touch base offline.” I didn’t know that expression the first time I heard it, but from context—everyone nodding—I understood it meant “Let’s talk later.”

Example 2:
In a technical call, someone said, “We’re hitting a bottleneck.” Even if you didn’t know that idiom, the tone and discussion about delays reveal the meaning. Once you’ve heard it once, it becomes part of your vocabulary.

What to Do Instead

Train your listening by focusing on context clues and keywords.
Listen for what matters: deadlines, actions, results.
If something’s unclear, ask confidently:

“Just to confirm, do you mean…?”

This not only clarifies but also shows professionalism.

5️⃣ Stop Waiting to Be Perfect Before Speaking

Many professionals tell me, “I’ll start speaking more once I feel ready.”
But readiness doesn’t come first—it comes after you start speaking.

Fluency grows from use, not from preparation.
You can’t think your way to confidence; you must act your way there.

Example 1:
A senior engineer I coached kept postponing English conversations with clients. We made a deal: in the next call, he’d say just one sentence in English, no matter what. He did—and after the call, he said, “That wasn’t as scary as I thought.” Two weeks later, he was leading full discussions.

Example 2:
A data analyst joined an English-only presentation group. Her first session was shaky. By the third, she was explaining complex charts confidently because she’d stopped waiting for perfection and started practicing consistency.

What to Do Instead

Speak before you feel ready.
Start small: one question in a meeting, one comment in a chat, one idea shared in a call.
Each micro-step builds the muscle of confidence.

Putting It All Together

Let’s recap the habits to drop—and the mindset to adopt:

• Don’t chase perfection—aim for clarity.

• Don’t memorise words—use functional phrases.

• Don’t fear mistakes—see them as feedback.

• Don’t decode every word—focus on meaning.

• Don’t wait for readiness—start now.

These aren’t just language tips. They’re performance principles that apply to every skill you learn in your career.

Q & A: Common Questions From Learners

Q: How can I stay calm when I forget a word mid-sentence?
A: Use a paraphrasing phrase like “The thing that controls access…” or “The system that handles…”. Keep the flow—people will fill in the gap naturally.

Q: How do I deal with fast-talking colleagues?
A: Ask politely for repetition: “Could you say that again, a bit slower, please?” It’s professional, not rude.

Q: How can I practise daily without studying for hours?
A: Speak out loud while doing routine tasks—summarise an email, describe what you’re doing, or explain a process. Ten minutes a day beats two hours once a week.

Real-World Reflection

When I look back at my early career, I realise I made every mistake on this list.
I obsessed over grammar, avoided speaking, and overprepared for every conversation.
But once I shifted my focus to connection over perfection, my entire communication style changed.

People stopped noticing my accent and started noticing my ideas.
I stopped memorising words and started owning conversations.

The Real Definition of Confidence

Confidence isn’t the absence of fear.
It’s the quiet decision that your message matters more than your mistakes.

Each time you speak up, you strengthen that decision.
And one day, you’ll realise you’re no longer translating thoughts—you’re leading discussions.

So stop waiting for the perfect sentence.
Start saying what you already know—with clarity, purpose, and courage.

That’s what real English confidence sounds like.