Meetings 1 - Getting Down To Business - Worksheets
Meetings 1 - Getting Down To Business - Worksheets
Meetings 1 - Getting Down To Business - Worksheets
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BBC | British Council 2011
Reading: Text 2
Small talk is the cement that holds businesses together
Did you know that 50% of business communication is actually small talk? Small
talk is a vital part of working with other people: finding out what theyre doing,
what theyre having problems with, and what they think they should be doing
differently. Perhaps even more importantly, its about getting to know your
colleagues and business partners as people, not just as business machines.
Business is very largely based on trusting people, helping and being helped by
people and persuading people to do things. How can you achieve any of those
things if you dont spend time getting to know each other?
When is this relationship-building supposed to happen? Outside of working
hours? No, thats not right if we accept that relationship building is real work.
When were sitting at our computers or in our offices? No, thats when we might
need to avoid interruptions and stay focused. So when, then? A lot of the best
small talk happens accidentally: the classic situations are the queue for the
photocopier, the coffee machine or the water cooler. But a much more
systematic and effective way to build good relationships between people from
different departments is to allow small talk to flourish in meetings.
Lets get a few things straight about meetings: the whole point of bringing
people together for meetings is to generate discussion, to resolve
misunderstandings, and to find solutions to problems that people couldnt find if
they were working alone. If everything is carefully planned in advance, and the
chair of the meeting sticks rigidly to the agenda, none of those things can take
place. Of course, theres a time when its appropriate for one person to talk and
everyone else to listen and learn, but thats a presentation, not a meeting.
If youre serious about making your meetings more effective, you need to give
the participants plenty of time to ask questions, take the conversation in new
directions, say things which may or may not be relevant, and above all, get to
know each other. Of course, you need to make sure things dont get out of
control, but that means finding a sensible balance between small talk and
getting down to business.
A company which does not tolerate small talk may get things done more
quickly, but that doesnt mean itll do things the best way, making full use of the
skills and ideas of its employees and it may well find that it loses its best
employees and its customers just as quickly.
www.teachingenglish.org.uk
BBC | British Council 2011
Complete these small talk questions by choosing the best form for
each verb in brackets.
Now match the questions (110) above with the answers (aj) below.
a.
A little, but its very slow. Were still tied up with the financing side of
things, so it doesnt feel like were getting anywhere.
Absolutely! Im giving a presentation! Im really nervous about it, actually.
Ah, nothing, really. Nothing ever changes! Busy as usual.
It was useful, but really exhausting. I just got back on Tuesday, so Im still
trying to get back on top of my inbox. But Im glad I went. I made a few
potentially useful contacts.
Next week, hopefully, but theyre still not happy with our service charges,
so it might still all fall through.
Not bad, actually. Hes on a steep learning curve, but hes trying hard, and
hes got a lot of potential.
Really well. We had a good turn-out, and some people said nice things
about it. Whether anyone actually buys the product as a result is another
question!
Were about to start working on the new marketing plan. Its not due to be
launched for another two months, but it takes a really long time to get
ready.
Weve been really busy preparing for next weeks quality inspection. Were
nearly ready, but there are still a few big jobs to finish.
Yes, they emailed us this morning with an order for 500 units, so it looks
like its all going ahead. Very exciting.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
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BBC | British Council 2011
1.
Right I think we should start now. Robert, Alice could you ? Robert
? Thanks.
2.
OK, so, is everybody here? Who are we waiting for? Hmmm well, I think
well have to make a start without them. Weve got a lot to get through
this afternoon.
3.
Right, well, as you know, the purpose of todays meeting is to see where
we are with the marketing plan, and to work out what we still need to do
before the launch, which is now just six weeks away.
4.
By the end of the meeting, we need to have a list of firm action points for
the next month. Hopefully well then need only one more meeting next
month to tie up any remaining loose ends.
5.
Did everyone get a copy of the agenda I sent round? OK, good.
6.
As I say, weve got a lot to get through, so please lets stick to the
agenda. Ive set aside two hours for this meeting, and we really cant
afford to run over. Ideally, we can cover everything in an hour and a
half. Does that sound reasonable?
7.
8.
So perhaps we can get the ball rolling by going through the list of
action points from the last meeting.
9.
Borys, you were going to look into the costs of the various options that
came up last time. Could you tell us what you found out?
2.
Now match the nine steps in the meeting introduction (19) to the
descriptions (ai). Can you think of other phrases for the nine steps?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
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BBC | British Council 2011
1.
What body language do you think the chairwoman used to interrupt the
small talk? Why didnt she finish her request?
Why do you think the chairwoman decided not to criticise people for being
late? Do you agree with her decision?
The chairwoman referred to action points for the next month and a
meeting next month. Whats the difference between the next month and
next month?
Why didnt the chairwoman go through the agenda step-by-step? Do you
agree with her decision?
Why did the chairwoman set both a maximum time limit and an ideal time
limit?
What verb form did the chairwoman use to refer to an action point from the
last meeting?
Do you think the chairwomans language was too idiomatic at times?
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
4.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
to make
to have
to see
to tie
to send
to stick
to set
to run
to cover
to get
to go
to look
to come
to find
5.
Using the list of nine steps from task 2 above and the useful phrases
from 4 above, take turns to practise starting your own meeting. You
could use one of the topics below or your own ideas.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
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BBC | British Council 2011