How to Describe Communication Style and Presence in English at Work
ESL English learning: Master vocabulary for describing body language, professional demeanour, and meeting presence in tech workplace settings.
Pronunciation Guide: Tricky Terms
Several terms in this unit are commonly mispronounced by ESL speakers. Master these to sound more confident when giving feedback.
courteous /ˈkɜːrtiəs/
COUR-tee-us
Saying 'cor-tee-OUS' with stress on final syllable
discourteous /dɪsˈkɜːrtiəs/
dis-COUR-tee-us
Omitting the 'dis' prefix or stressing incorrectly
etiquette /ˈetɪket/
ET-i-ket
Pronouncing it as 'eh-ti-KETT' with French stress
straitlaced /ˌstreɪtˈleɪst/
strait-LACED
Saying 'straight-laced' as if two separate words
insolent /ˈɪnsələnt/
IN-suh-lent
Stressing second syllable: 'in-SO-lent'
Why Communication Style Vocabulary Matters in Tech
In tech workplaces, how you come across matters as much as what you say. Whether you're presenting in a sprint demo, interviewing for a senior role, or receiving feedback in a performance review, having precise vocabulary to describe professional demeanour and body language helps you communicate more effectively.
This article gives you the vocabulary to describe how people behave in meetings, video calls, and professional settings — and how to give constructive feedback on communication style.
Grammar Note: Manners vs. Manner
'Manners' (plural) refers to social behaviour and politeness: 'She has excellent manners in client meetings.' 'Manner' (singular) means 'way of doing something': 'He explained the architecture in a clear manner.' Don't confuse them — saying 'good manner' when you mean 'good manners' is a common ESL error.
Core Vocabulary: Professional Behaviour and Courtesy
When describing how someone behaves professionally, you need vocabulary that captures nuances — from positive traits like courtesy to negative ones like being offhand or insolent.
| Term | Meaning | Tech Workplace Example |
|---|---|---|
| courteous (adj.) | Polite and showing respect | The interviewer was courteous and gave me time to think before answering. |
| discourteous (adj.) | Impolite, lacking respect | Interrupting during someone's screen share is discourteous. |
| offhand (adj.) | Showing a rude lack of interest | His offhand response in the code review felt dismissive. |
| insolent (adj.) | Rude and disrespectful (strong) | The candidate's insolent tone when questioned about gaps raised concerns. |
| straitlaced (adj.) | Having rigid, old-fashioned standards | Some straitlaced managers still expect cameras on at all times. |
| the done thing | Expected behaviour in a context | Muting yourself when not speaking is the done thing in large video calls. |
| stand on ceremony | Behave very formally | We don't stand on ceremony here — just jump into the discussion. |
| etiquette (n.) | Accepted rules of behaviour | Every team has its own Slack etiquette around response times. |
- Courtesy still matters in remote work — prompt responses and camera presence signal respect.
- Netiquette refers specifically to online behaviour norms, including Slack and email communication.
- Describing someone as 'offhand' is useful feedback — it's less severe than 'rude' but still signals a problem.
Body Language Vocabulary for Video Calls and Meetings
Even in remote work, body language communicates volumes. These verbs help you describe non-verbal behaviour you observe in video calls, interviews, and presentations.
| Verb/Expression | What It Indicates | Video Call Example |
|---|---|---|
| raise eyebrows | Surprise or shock | The timeline raised a few eyebrows in the planning meeting. |
| twitch | Nervousness (repeated small movements) | I noticed him twitching when asked about the incident root cause. |
| flinch | Pain or sudden discomfort | She flinched when the interviewer brought up her previous company. |
| squirm | Embarrassment or discomfort | He was squirming in his chair during the difficult feedback conversation. |
| beam | Genuine happiness (positive) | She beamed when we announced her promotion. |
| smirk | Self-satisfaction (negative connotation) | His smirk during the critique didn't land well with the team. |
| sniff at | Disapproval | Some senior engineers sniff at any suggestion to change the stack. |
| snort | Disgust or amusement | He snorted when someone suggested rewriting the service in two weeks. |
Culture Tip: Reading Body Language Across Cultures
Body language norms vary globally. What reads as 'engaged' in one culture (leaning forward, nodding) may feel aggressive in another. In distributed teams, describe behaviour objectively: 'I noticed you weren't nodding much' rather than 'You seemed disengaged.'
Scenario 1: Coming Across Confidently in a Video Interview
When coaching someone for a video interview, you need vocabulary to describe positive presence and common pitfalls.
Example feedback: 'You came across as confident and courteous — you maintained eye contact with the camera and didn't appear offhand when the interviewer pushed back on your design. One thing to work on: you were squirming a bit when discussing the team conflict question, which might raise eyebrows with a panel looking for leadership presence.'
- Come across as — how you appear to others: 'You came across as well-prepared and thoughtful.'
- Maintain eye contact with the camera — not the screen, to appear engaged.
- Avoid appearing offhand — show genuine interest in the role and company.
- Don't smirk at challenging questions — it reads as arrogance, not confidence.
Scenario 2: Giving Feedback on Presentation Style
After a sprint demo or tech talk, you might need to give feedback on someone's presentation style and meeting presence.
| Heard at Work (Vague) | Better English (Precise) |
|---|---|
| You seemed nervous. | I noticed you were twitching a bit during the Q&A — taking a breath before answering might help. |
| You looked happy about the feedback. | You were beaming when the stakeholder approved the design — your enthusiasm was clear. |
| You seemed rude to the PM. | Your response to the PM came across as a bit offhand — adding context would help. |
| People were shocked by the estimate. | The two-sprint estimate raised a few eyebrows — be ready to justify it. |
| You looked uncomfortable. | You were squirming when asked about the deadline — let's prep answers for that. |
Scenario 3: Discussing Professional Demeanour in Performance Reviews
In performance reviews, managers often discuss communication style and professional presence. Here's vocabulary that appears in feedback conversations.
| Informal (Slack/1:1) | Formal (Written Review/Doc) |
|---|---|
| You're always super polite with stakeholders. | You consistently demonstrate courtesy when engaging with cross-functional partners. |
| Sometimes you come off as not caring. | At times, your responses can appear offhand, which may be misinterpreted as disengagement. |
| You looked really happy about the launch. | Your enthusiasm was evident — you were beaming throughout the launch presentation. |
| People were a bit surprised by your pushback. | Your direct feedback raised some eyebrows; consider softening delivery in senior forums. |
| You handled that awkward question well. | You maintained composure when faced with challenging questions, demonstrating strong professional demeanour. |
Phrase Bank: Describing Professional Presence
Use these phrases in reviews and feedback: 'demonstrates strong professional demeanour', 'maintains composure under pressure', 'comes across as engaged and courteous', 'could work on appearing less offhand in high-stakes conversations'.
Practice Exercises
Multiple choice
Choose the best answer.
Your teammate gave a one-word answer when the PM asked about timeline risks. Which term best describes their behaviour?
Complete the sentence
Type the missing word or phrase.
Complete the sentence: 'The aggressive timeline ______ a few eyebrows in the planning meeting.'
Multiple choice
Choose the best answer.
Which body language verb has a POSITIVE connotation when describing someone's reaction to good news?
Multiple choice
Choose the best answer.
In a performance review, how would you formally describe someone who is always polite with stakeholders?