Extra practice

Now, you try!

An employee is disappointed that they haven't been given more projects, and has come to talk with their manager. The manager has not given the employee new projects because their performance has been weak recently.

Now, let's practice!

Let's have a chat!

Try to use some of the phrases we've learned!

1. What makes it easy to talk to someone?

2. Tell about your favorite types of conversations to have?

3. Who is the best conversationalist that you have ever met?

4. Have you ever had a great conversation with a complete stranger?

5. What is your role in a conversation? Do you usually dominate?

6. What percent of a conversation do you spend talking?

7. Have you ever tried to consciously change your conversational style?

8. What are some good habits you have in conversation?

9. What are some bad traits you have in conversations?

Next, we’re going to hear another difficult conversation between the team leader and the employee we heard in the first unit. We’ll encounter some more phrases useful for expressing dissatisfaction.

I agree with you on that point.

That's a fair suggestion.

So what you're saying is that you...

In other words, you feel that...

You have a strong point there.

I think we can both agree that...

I don't see any problem with/harm in that.

Imagine that you are giving a second warning to an employee whose work or attitude is not of a high standard. What words or phrases might be useful in this conversation?

I understand where you're coming from; however,...

I'm prepared to compromise, but...

The way I look at it...

The way I see things...

If you look at it from my point of view...

I'm afraid I had something different in mind.

That's not exactly how I look at it.

From my perspective...

I'd have to disagree with you there.

I'm afraid that doesn't work for me.

Is that your best offer?

It’s been two weeks since the conversation between Sean and Michelle in unit 1. Sean thinks that Michelle’s attitude still hasn’t improved, and he has decided to raise this with her. As you listen, try to hear the phrases above.

All managers sometimes have to have difficult conversations with people working under them. What is the best way to give negative feedback?

Imagine you are unhappy with the behaviour of a member of your team. You have decided to raise the issue with this person and tell him or her that you would like to see an improvement. What words or phrases might be useful in this tricky conversation?

Sean: Michelle, can I have a word please, in my office? Now then. I won’t take long about this, I’ll come straight to the point. We had a chat...

Michelle: Yeah.

Sean: At that point, I wasn’t particularly happy with the way that you were behaving in the office, the way that you were being uncooperative, a little bit surly with people. And since then, frankly, I’ve seen very little change.

Michelle: Well, I mean, I think I’ve made an effort, trying to be helpful like I normally am with people, and I feel that I’m still doing my job - not that the job’s very interesting. I think it’s become less interesting since Sarah got the promotion. I think she’s getting some more of the interesting work.

Sean: Okay, well I’m afraid that, despite what you say, it hasn’t come across. I don’t want to jump to any conclusions, but you have taken quite a bit of time off … and …

Michelle: Yeah, but you’re allowed to take leave, aren’t you?

Sean: You are allowed to take leave. Hopefully you come back from leave refreshed and you leave your problems at home.

Listen to the audio

Choose the best word to complete each sentence.

1. I’ll_________________________________.

A come straight on the point

B come straight beside the point

C come straight up to a point

D come straight to the point

2. ________, I’ve seen very little change in your behaviour in the last few weeks.

A Surely

B Frankly

C To be frankly

D Stanley

3. I don’t want to _________ to any conclusions.

A jump

B climb

C reach

D jog

4. Well, __________ what you say, I’m not very happy.

A despite

B though

C although

D even though

Sean: Okay, well, I’m not going to get into a discussion about who deserved to get the job. Clearly, the person who was appointed was the right person for the job. What you need to do is look at your work and what you’re doing and where that’s taking you in your career. But bearing in mind that you are still employed to do a job and I expect you to do that job with a certain attitude. You’re meeting members of the public quite regularly - it’s important that you aren’t unhappy, or at least that you don’t show it. This meeting is really just to let you know I’m not happy with the effort that you’ve made...

Michelle: Okay …

Sean: … and I really want to see some improvement. I know it’s difficult. I know that it’s depressing not to get a job, but you’ve got to snap out of it, you’ve got to get on with the job that you’re doing now.

Work in a small group.

1) What problems are Michelle having?

2) Is the way that Sean is addressing them helping?

3) If you were Michelle's friend, what actions would you recommend to her in this situation?

4) If you were Sean's friend, how would you react to him telling you about this problem?

Which words from the dialogue fit the best?

1. You’ve got to ______ out of it.

A sort

B cut

C snap

D lift

2. I _______ you to try a bit harder.

A expect

B like

C request

D hope

3. ______, what you’ve done isn’t good enough.

A Probably

B Maybe

C Clearly

D Hopefully

4. I really want to see __________.

A your trying

B better

C better effort

D some improvement

Extra practice

Building relationships.