b) Speed of talking

How do I find out if I speak fast?

Well, people will tell you so. You need to listen to their advice.

If people generally ask you to repeat what you said because they were unable to follow or understand you, that is a warning bell. Don't turn a deaf ear to it. Record and listen to yourself and see if you are speaking fast.

What do I do once I find out I speak fast?

Slow down.

All you need to do is read aloud, everyday.

Take a newspaper, magazine or your favourite English book. Read a few passages, and preferably record it for yourself. Trust me, it helps.

c) Grammar

Use short sentences -- that is the magic formula to construct grammatically correct sentences.

Don't try saying too many things at one go. Break down the information into short, crisp and to-the-point sentences.

Avoid slang -- words like 'bucks,' 'yup,' 'gotya,' 'gotcha,' etc -- in professional conversations. If you overhear a phrase and you like it, don't start using it unless you are sure you know the meaning. Copying is easy, but not a very smart thing to do.

You are NOT required to sound complex in your speech to crack a BPO interview; you need to sound simple and comprehendible.

• Will poor English affect my job interview?

The Thought Process

a)  Listening

Remember the two-ears-and-one-mouth story?

Let your brain LISTEN to the information to process and organise an answer. It will happen without you even realising it. Some pointers to help you:

• Do not interrupt the speaker.
• Do not jump to premature conclusions.
• Do not assume.
• ASK if you have not understood something -- asking to repeat is okay.
• Think before you speak.

• Good Listeners = Better Managers

b) Organised thinking

Answer one question at a time.

If you have too many experiences to share, put them one by one. The best bet is to tell the most appropriate one, rather than ramble everything out at one go.

Take a deep breath and pause after you make a statement.

And remember the magic formula -- SHORT SENTENCES.

Try this exercise: Take a picture, and describe it. Or, try describing the recipe of your favourite dish. Or, you can give road directions to your favourite store in the city. These are good ways to exercise organising your thought process.

c) Flow of thought/fluency

Develop a flow in speech, do not use fillers and foghorns -- words like, 'hmm, uhh, I mean, it's like, you know.' They break the flow of speech and sound irritating.

To work on fluency, read an article and then say it in your own words.

When you become an expert at that, choose some topics and speak on them.

Stand in front of a mirror and speak. It will help you overcome your fear of speaking in public and develop fluency.

Recording yourself is also a very good option.

d) Keep yourself informed

Usually, group discussions are based on current affairs and general knowledge. If you are not a 'news channel' kind of person, turn into one. Keep yourself informed. Choose some sensible topics to speak on, not the latest Bollywood heartthrob.

Your technical knowledge is important -- however, its scope and impact in the current business scenario is also a part of your domain knowledge.

Tomorrow: Tips about your attitude and personality.