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BEP 263 – Socializing at an Office Party 2

Business English, Socializing /

Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on socializing at an office party.

Office parties can be fun, but have you ever stood there with a colleague and felt like you don’t know what to say? Maybe you’ve got a great working relationship, but outside the office it feels like a different game? In fact, good working relationships are supported by good personal relationships. The more we know our co-workers, the better our work can be. And the office party can be a great chance to get to know them better and build that relationship.

So, how do we do that? What are some techniques for socializing at office parties? In today’s lesson, we’ll look at paying, or giving, someone a compliment, declining a drink, and gossiping. We’ll also learn how to change the topic and introduce two people who haven’t met before.

In the dialog, we will hear Amber, who works for a pharmaceutical company. At a company Christmas party she runs into one of her colleagues Max. Max and Amber chat for a while before Finn, a new colleague of Amber’s, shows up on the scene.

Listening Questions

1. What compliment does Amber give to Max?
2. What reason does Amber give for not wanting a drink?
3. Max and Amber are talking about work colleagues when Amber changes the topic. What topic does she ask about?

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BEP 262 – Socializing at an Office Party 1

Business English, Socializing /

Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on socializing at an office party or event.

Office parties are a great opportunity to get to know your colleagues outside of the usual work environment. Besides, as the saying goes, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” But have you ever found yourself at a party, drink in hand, and been unsure how to strike up a conversation? Maybe you’re at a table with someone you haven’t actually met from a different department. You make eye contact, smile, and then what? What do you say?

Socializing with co-workers is an important part of building good relationships, but it can be awkward if you find yourself at a loss for words. Fortunately, there are some great techniques for this situation that you can learn and practice. In today’s lesson, we’ll look at breaking the ice and using common points of knowledge to start a conversation. We’ll also learn how to turn the conversation to the other person, show interest, and make an excuse to leave when you want to finish the conversation.

In the dialog, we will hear Amber, who works in marketing for a pharmaceutical company. She is at a staff Christmas party and finds herself talking to Shelly, who works in sales. Amber and Shelly haven’t actually met before, and Amber wants to make conversation.

Listening Questions

1. What does Amber first comment on in her conversation?
2. What work topic does Amber bring up with Shelly?
3. What reason does Amber give for leaving?

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BEP 261 – Complaining on the Telephone 2

Business English, Customer Service, Telephone English /

Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on complaining and getting results over the phone.

Few people actually like to complain, but sometimes you just have to. There’s an old saying that “the squeaky wheel gets the grease,” which means that if you don’t complain, you won’t actually get anything resolved. So if you pay for a product or service and you’re not satisfied, it’s usually best to let the company know.

We can complain by email, but email isn’t always powerful enough. We need to use our voice to convey our ideas, emotions, and seriousness. We can complain in person, but that’s not always possible. So in many situations, we need to complain over the phone. But that’s not an easy thing to do successfully, so today we’ll look at some techniques that you can use to get results over the phone. In this lesson, we’ll cover rejecting a proposed solution, making threats, and asking for guarantees. We’ll also learn about establishing consequences and showing appreciation for a solution.

In the dialog, we will rejoin Donna and Mike. Donna works for Fuller Foods, which buys fruit from a company where Mike works as an account manager. Donna has been complaining about late deliveries and damaged produce. And Mike is trying to make her happy by looking for solutions to the problem.

Listening Questions

1. What does Donna think of Mike’s idea to talk to people in his company about the problem?
2. Why might Donna mention that she gets calls from sales reps from other companies?
3. What does Donna propose in the event that deliveries arrive late?

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BEP 260 – Complaining on the Telephone 1

Business English, Customer Service, Telephone English /

Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on complaining over the telephone.

We all know the frustration that comes with not being satisfied with a product or service? And have you had your frustration build up because the problem keeps happening? At some point, we have to stop just complaining to our friends or colleagues about it and complain directly to the company. After all, you pay good money for something, and you want to be happy with it.

So you call the company up and you try to deal with the problem over the phone. It’s not an easy task, but there are some techniques that you can learn to make your complaints more effective. In today’s lesson, we’ll look at politely explaining a problem, rejecting bad excuses, and talking about the impact of the problem. We’ll also learn how to reference previous discussions about the problem and how to ask for a solution.

In the dialog, we will hear Donna, who works for a food products company called Fuller Foods. She’s calling Mike, an account manager with a company that distributes fruit. Donna is unhappy with the service she’s been getting and wants to complain about it.

Listening Questions

1. What excuse for the problem does Mike give at first?
2. What is the impact of the problem that Donna is complaining about?
3. What important question does Donna ask Mike at the end of the dialog?

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Skills 360 – Dealing with Criticism (Part 2)

Business English, Business English Skills 360, Communication /

Skills 360 - Dealing with Criticism 2

Welcome back to the Skills 360 for today’s lesson on how to deal with criticism.

Unless you’re perfect, you have room to improve. That doesn’t sound like a difficult idea to accept, but what is difficult is when other people point it out to us. So, in today’s lesson, I want to focus on validity. That is, on whether the criticism is valid, justified, or reasonable. If it is, then we should treat it as helpful and constructive. And if it’s not, then we might need a different approach.

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