The first time I sat across from an international client on a video call, I felt like I had been dropped into someone else’s movie without the script. When you grow up in South India, English is not always the language of daily life. You hear it in classrooms. You write exams in it. But you do not live in it. I grew up speaking Malayalam, a language that has its own rhythm, warmth and emotional depth. It is the language of my home, my neighbourhood and every conversation that mattered in my early years. English, meanwhile, was more like a guest. It was polite, formal and distant. So, when I began my career and started working with clients abroad, I thought I was well-prepared. I thought I could handle anything the corporate world threw my way until the first client called and heard the Irish accent from the other side of the phone. The words came fast, the tone was unfamiliar and the accent felt like a code I had not learned. But I did not want to seem lost. So, I did what most of us have done at least once. I nodded, smiled and said, “Yes, absolutely!” while my brain whispered, “What did they just say?” I only understood less than half of what was discussed. My confidence took a solid hit. Here I was, someone who prided themselves on communication, unable to understand English not because of grammar or vocabulary, but because of accents. And that is when I learned something no one tells you in school that speaking English and understanding English in a global context are two very different skills.

The One Advice That Changed Everything

One day after a confusing call, my manager Michael Kellett pulled me aside. He did not call me out. He simply saw that I was struggling and decided to guide me. His advice was so unexpected.

“Go watch movies. Relentlessly.”

He did not ask me to go to a communication course or training. He just asked me to watch movies. There was something about the way he said it, calm and encouraging. That made me take his words seriously. And so began the most unconventional training program of my life. Subtitles became my lifeline. I watched everything I could get my hands on. Day in and out, I consumed different types of media like water and followed subtitles like a holy book. I watched everything like sitcoms, documentaries and even the most random indie films. I was not learning English but was absorbing it. I tuned my ear to new rhythms and new speeds. Slowly, something began to shift. Phrases that used to sound like a blur began to separate into words, the accents that once felt impossible began to make sense and vocabulary that felt foreign became familiar.

It did not happen overnight. It was months of listening, failing and listening again. But slowly, the need for subtitles disappeared. My ears adjusted, my confidence grew and my calls with clients became conversations instead of guessing games. I could catch not just words but emotions and tone behind the language.

And with that, something else shifted my confidence as a professional. I was no longer afraid to ask questions, clarify points or even make small talk. The fear of not understanding was gone. I could finally be present in conversations, not stuck inside my head trying to decode them. Today, I can confidently say I do not need subtitles, not for movies, not for meetings and not for life. Looking back, this journey was not just about understanding accents. It was about learning how to adapt. In today’s world, we work across borders, time zones and cultures. Our industries are no longer local. They are global. And that means communication is not just about language it is about connection.

Here are a few lessons I picked up along the way:

1. Exposure changes everything.The more you hear, the more your brain adapts. Immerse yourself in different forms of media like movies, podcasts, interviews, even YouTube channels. Listening equals half the learning.
2. Subtitles are teachers.Follow them closely until your brain starts catching the patterns naturally. Then let them go and you will know when you are ready.
3. Be okay with not understanding everything right away.Language is just like music. You start with noise, then begin to recognize rhythm, and eventually will learn the melody.
4. Confidence comes after comprehension.The moment you stop worrying about the missing words, you start actually communicating.
5. Empathy is the real communication skill.Understanding someone is not just about hearing their words but it is about wanting to and that mindset changes everything.

A Question Every Professional Should Ask

Sometimes I think back to that first call, when I was nervously nodding and pretending to understand an Irish client. If someone told me then that one day I would lead conversations with hundreds of clients across the world, I would have laughed. But here I am. And it all started with that simple advice to watch movies relentlessly. I learned that some lessons come from moments of embarrassment that push you to grow. I did not just learn to understand accents. I learned patience, adaptability and the power of persistence.

Because the truth is in every industry, we all have something we have had to conquer quietly. For me, it was the accent. For you, it might be something else. It can be a skill, a fear or maybe a habit. And today, I do not need subtitles for movies or for conversations with anyone.What is one thing you have conquered because of your industry? Or what is that invisible battle that shaped who you are today?

Sometimes, that is where your real story begins.