Reversibility as a sign of respect
How “reversable” doyou communicate?
Apr 07, 2025•5 min
Communication Psychology and HR – with Gerhard Ohrband
I’m Gerhard, a communication psychologist and consultant from Hamburg, Germany, working with HR teams and leaders in Moldova, South Eastern Europe, and beyond.
Here, we explore the psychological research behind everyday HR and workplace communication — without buzzwords and without pretending everything is easy.
Each week, we unpack one topic that HR professionals often hear about but rarely understand from a scientific perspective.
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Episodes
How many words do I need to learn really?
The inconvenienttruths are: Most of us don’t learn new words systematically and on a dailybasis. And: We really need much less words than think we need. Found out why!
Mar 31, 2025•6 min
What resources do you need to learn a foreign language?
Even in a digitalworld, we will need to have some physical support for learning a language. What are the essentials?
Mar 24, 2025•9 min
Don’t worry about language tests early on
At the beginning,many of us are insecure. Will I ever have success? Am I learning the correctway? Taking tests to obtain answers to those questions may actually be a verybad idea. Learn why!
Mar 24, 2025•9 min
How to not waste time while learning a foreign language
Almost nobody hasenough time to learn a foreign language “thoroughly”. In this episode I willshow you how to make an audit of your daily language learning practice.
Mar 24, 2025•6 min
Start specific, become more general later
Many of us believewe need to accumulate many “general” words and expressions first, before we areallowed to start learning technical vocabulary and expressions.
Mar 24, 2025•8 min
The problem with playing the devil’s advocate
I am guilty of thismyself. I enjoy playing the devil’s advocate. However, in group meetings it can have detrimentaleffects.
Mar 22, 2025•5 min
What is an altruistic speaker
Being an altruisticspeaker doesn’t mean you need to give up on your positions. Find out more!
Mar 19, 2025•5 min
How objective am I about my language skills
Which of thefollowing biases is relevant for you?
Mar 17, 2025•6 min
What words do I need to know in a conversation
I don’t know enoughwords, is a typical complaint. The crucial question is, however: Which words?
Mar 17, 2025•7 min
When will I be ready to engage in conversation in a foreign language
Many of us never feelprepared enough to engage in a conversation.
Mar 17, 2025•7 min
What is an egotistic speaker
How altruistic arewe really while speaking in a foreign language? Test yourself applying thefollowing criteria!
Mar 17, 2025•7 min
Who will give me the permission to speak in a foreign language
Are you stillwaiting for a permission to speak in a foreign language?
Mar 17, 2025•7 min
How to simplify our language learning
A good startingpoint is to get rid of lots of unchecked assumptions about how languagelearning should take place? Many of us have a long laundry list of everything weshould learn and practice. What do you think?
Mar 15, 2025•8 min
Language as a form of intimidation
Especially in somecultures and with some persons: If you don’t understand correctly, it is your,the listener’s fault. What do you think?
Mar 14, 2025•5 min
How to simplify our speech
We love often touse complicated expressions. Not only in a foreign language: It is easy tospeak complicated, it is difficult to speak simple. To speak simple, you need to have clarity. Tohave clarity, you need to constantly reorganize your thoughts. Not verypopular. What do you think?
Mar 12, 2025•8 min
How can I develop more empathy while speaking
Empathy is the newhype. Everybody wants to be emphatic. But, how can we actually become moreemphatic while speaking a foreign language?
Mar 10, 2025•5 min
Why we love to use complicated expressions
Not only in a foreign language: It is easy tospeak complicated, it is difficult to speak simple. To speak simple, you need to have clarity. Tohave clarity, you need to constantly reorganize your thoughts. Not verypopular. What do you think?
Mar 10, 2025•4 min
Listening with four ears
Do you listen withjust two ears? You may be missing out on important communication secrets.
Mar 08, 2025•6 min
The Hamburg Understandability Concept for written texts
Not only for writtentexts. How can others understand us more easily? Remember: In most situations,our goal should not be to intimidate others with our superior language skills.
Mar 07, 2025•6 min
How to look smart in a foreign language
Disclaimer: As anadult, it is your responsibility to use this information only for ethicalpurposes.
Mar 03, 2025•10 min
How to prepare for job interviews in a foreign language
Job interviews arescary for many of us. More so in a foreign language. Learn how you couldprepare for the unexpected.
Mar 01, 2025•7 min
How to prepare for language tests
Many of us get intothe frenzy of making as many exercises as possible. If you become morestrategic and calculated about language tests, you can obtain better results inless time.
Feb 28, 2025•10 min
What can I do to become less shy?
Actually, learning aforeign language can make you less shy in your native language. Learn morehere.
Feb 26, 2025•8 min
Social anxiety and learning a foreign language
Yes, social anxietyis a psychological diagnosis. However, many of us have various degrees of beingsocially anxious. When learning a foreign language, it is not only the problemof learning grammar and vocabulary, but also to initiate contact withstrangers. What do you think?
Feb 24, 2025•11 min
SMART goals in language learning
Most of us haveheard of it. Fewer apply this to their business projects. Very few apply thisto language learning. What do you think?
Feb 22, 2025•8 min
How to set realistic goals in language learning
Result-oriented international businesscommunication requires increasing cultural and linguistic prowess andadaptability. In this podcast you will learn how toimprove your communication skills both in your native and in a foreignlanguage. You will discover strategies and tactics onhow to overcome mental blocksand ultimately develop true self-confidence. Gerhard Ohrband is a university researcherin psychology and author from Hamburg/Germany. He coaches individuals andcompanies worldwide in 11 lang...
Feb 21, 2025•12 min
How to generate your own grammar exercises
Result-oriented international businesscommunication requires increasing cultural and linguistic prowess andadaptability. In this podcast you will learn how toimprove your communication skills both in your native and in a foreignlanguage. You will discover strategies and tactics onhow to overcome mental blocksand ultimately develop true self-confidence. Gerhard Ohrband is a university researcherin psychology and author from Hamburg/Germany. He coaches individuals andcompanies worldwide in 11 lang...
Feb 19, 2025•10 min
Real vs. fake structures in language learning
Result-oriented international businesscommunication requires increasing cultural and linguistic prowess andadaptability. In this podcast you will learn how toimprove your communication skills both in your native and in a foreignlanguage. You will discover strategies and tactics onhow to overcome mental blocksand ultimately develop true self-confidence. Gerhard Ohrband is a university researcherin psychology and author from Hamburg/Germany. He coaches individuals andcompanies worldwide in 11 lang...
Feb 17, 2025•13 min
Why we need water in our information diet
Break Languages Barriers helps you gain self-confidence while communicating in your native and in a foreign language. Gerhard Ohrband (MA in psychology from the University of Hamburg) is a recovering polyglot, university researcher, language teacher, book author and psychologist from Hamburg/Germany. He is living in Chisinau/Moldova since 2006. He has more than 20 years of experience of helping private and corporate clients overcome communication obstacles, especially in international business. ...
Feb 15, 2025•8 min
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