Practical Grammar and Vocabulary in the Workplace. Пособие по бизнес-английскому

Vocabulary related to management and leadership

We suggest taking the test to find out whether you have good leadership skills and we encourage you to refresh some vocabulary to better understand the situations in the quiz.

1. To do things by the book – to do something exactly as the rules tell you Делать все строго по правилам

My lawyer always goes strictly by the book.

2. To blame outside circumstances– to say or think that things around are responsible for something bad happening

Винить во всем внешние обстоятельства

Are you blaming outside circumstances for your current results?

3. Cut-throat competition -competing in a strong and unfair way, without considering any harm caused to others

Ожесточенная конкуренция

They want what we call cut-throat competition within the transport industry.

4. To reprimand – to express to someone your strong official disapproval of them

Делать выговор, замечание

She was reprimanded for what she hadn’t done.

5. Red tape – official rules and processes that seem unnecessary and delay results

Волокита, бюрократиз

He promised to reform and cut red tape.

6. To threaten someone with dismissal – to threaten employees that they will be fired if a particular action or order is not followed

Угрожать увольнением

She was threatened with dismissal if she did not complete the work on time.

7. Peer – a colleague / a company in the same industry as other companies

Коллега, компании в одной сфере

Try to avoid having such conflicts with your peers.

8. Up to scratch – reaching an acceptable standard

На должной высоте, в хорошем состоянии /виде, так как надо

The last few episodes of the TV program haven’t been quite up to scratch.

9. To make somebody redundant – to dismiss an employer because the company no longer needs you.

Увольнять /из-за проблем компании/

She was made redundant when the company was touch and go.

10. A weak link in a team -a weak part, especially the weakest part of the company

Слабое звено в команде

He realized being a weak link in this team and decided to quit.

11. To meet deadlines – to do something on time

Выдержать сроки, успеть к установленному сроку

It is necessary to understand and respect each party’s priorities, resources and ability to meet deadlines.

12. To resign – to give up a job or position voluntarily by telling your employer that you are leaving

Уходить в отставку, оставлять работу

Timken resigned a hopeless position.

13. To fire – to dismiss from work due to an employee”s fault

Увольнять по вине сотрудника

Gordon wants me to fire seven people so we don’t go under.

14. To take the kudos — to receive praise, admiration, and fame for an achievement

Получать награды за заслуги

He was too embarrassed to take all the kudos.

15. To sack – to dismiss from work due to an employee”s fault

Увольнять по вине сотрудника

It was unfair to sack you but things happen.

16. To increase workload – to raise the amount of work to be done, especially by a particular person or machine in a period of time

Увеличивать рабочую нагрузку

It would be difficult to increase the workload further without increasing the capacity of the translation services.

17. Turn a blind eye – to ignore something that you know is wrong

Смотреть сквозь пальцы, не обращать внимание

Management often turn a blind eye to bullying in the workplace.

18. To appraise – to examine something in order to judge their qualities

Давать оценку

In cooperation with other professionals, social workers will appraise the individual’s needs.

19. Autocratic – demanding that people obey completely, without asking or caring about anyone else’s opinions

Властный, деспотичный

The president resigned after 30 years of autocratic ruling

20. To dismiss – to remove someone from their job, especially because they have done something wrong

Увольнять, освобождать, распускать т.к. сделано что-то не так

He has been dismissed from his job for incompetence.

21. To lay someone off – to stop employing someone, usually because there is no more work for them

Увольнять по причине отсутствия работы

Because of falling orders, the company has been forced to lay off several hundred workers.

22. To wander off the point – to get off the topic

Отклоняться от темы

We seem to have wandered off the point a bit.

23. To allocate – to give something to someone as their share of a total amount, to use in a particular way

Распределять, ассигновать средства

You should allocate tasks among members of the group.

24. To terminate – to (cause something to) end or stop

Завершать, увольнять

He was terminated within several weeks of starting.

Quiz: Do you have leadership skills?

1.One of your staff often arrives late for work. He’s a good worker – efficient, brilliant and original – but arriving late means that he often misses the beginning of team meetings, or other people have to answer his calls. Do you…

a) write him a letter threatening him with dismissal if he doesn’t improve?

b) have an informal private chat with him where you suggest he pulls his socks up?

c) make sarcastic comments about his poor time-keeping in front of the team?

d) ignore the problem – he’s a good worker after all?

2.There’s a member of your staff you just don’t like. She often openly disagrees with your decisions, and you’re sure she criticises you constantly behind your back. Do you…

a) put up with her because she’s been in the department for 20 years?

b) transfer her to another department where someone else will have the pleasure of her company?

c) increase her workload in the hope that she will leave?

d) have a personal interview with her where you talk over the problems between you?

3.A new recruit to your department is not learning the job as quickly as you had hoped, and you consider him to be a weak link in your team.Do you…

a) tell him he is not up to scratch and threaten him with the sack?

b) tell him your opinion and offer him further training?

c) pretend there’s no problem —if you take action against this person, it may upset other members of your team?

d) offer him a transfer to another department where he may be more at home?

4. You’ve noticed signs of stress in your team: people are irritable, complaining of headaches, taking sick leave. Do you..

a) offer to give them a pay rise?

b) take on more staff to ease their workloads?

c) try to do more of their work yourself?

d) carry on as if the situation was normal?

5.Your division boss has asked you and your team to take on an extra project. You’re already working flat out on the current project. Do you…

a) explain the situation and ask for another solution?

b) accept the extra work because you’re afraid of saying «no»?

c) accept the extra work because you’re ambitious and it could eventually mean promotion?

d) tell your boss he must be joking – your people are under enough pressure as it is?

6.Your team is doing extremely well – you’re exceeding all your targets and easily meeting all your deadlines. You divisional boss recently called you in to congratulate you. Do you..

a) take all the kudos – after all you’re the leader?

b) pass on the praise to your team and suggest they be paid a bonus?

c) ask your boss to set even higher targets?

d) hold a team party to celebrate?

7) An important customer has complained that one of your staff was very rude to him. Do you…

a) confront her during a team meeting and then reprimand her in front of her peers?

b) fire her on the spot?

c) ask her for her version of events and take it from there?

d) stand by your subordinate and tell the customer he was wrong?

8.You’ve noticed that two of your team are getting more than friendly. You imagine that there’s an office romance under way. Do you..

a) turn a blind eye?

b) get involved in the office gossip to find out what’s happening?

c) tell them to put an end to it?

d) keep an eye on the situation in case it has an effect on team efficiency?

9.Your division manager has told you that your team’s performance is not up to scratch. Do you…

a) blame the team?

b) blade outside circumstances which are beyond your control?

c) take the blame yourself?

d) tell her it’s her fault for not giving you the necessary resources?

10.One of your staff tells you he doesn’t find his job sufficiently challenging. Do you…

a) offer him more responsibility and empowerment in his current job?

b) promote him to a position of greater responsibility?

c) tell him it’s time he was moving on?

d) tell him he should be happy he’s got a job at all?

As soon as you have finished doing the test, you can check the answers with explanations in the keys

Vocabulary exercises

1. Put a missing word in a gap

1. Behave like a mature man and don’t… outside circumstances

2. I can’t stand visiting such offices because of their… tape

3. Guess what! He …me with a dismissal!

4. We need to consolidate our efforts in this cut-throat ….

5. We regret to tell you that your work is not… to scratch

6. I suggested sharing responsibilities on this project to …. deadlines

7. If I were you I wouldn’t… all the kudos for this teamwork

8. No sooner had they received a meagre pay rise than their… was increased drastically

9. He is said to have been …. redundant during the lockdown

10. let’s admit that you are a weak… in our team

11. Were I you, I would never turn a… eye to such rude manners.

12. During that endless lockdown quite a few workers were laid….

13. You are always wandering off the… whenever I want to talk to you about our budget.

14. The regime became too… and was overthrown by a military coup.

15. You should …. tasks among members of the group.

2. Choose the correct option

1. She persuaded us to ….. things by the book

a) make b) get c) do d) perform

2. I refused to participate in this cut-….competition

a) neck b) throat c) stomach d) tongue

3. Do you have any right to threaten us… dismissal?

a) by b) of c) for d) with

4. Only with your help have I been able to do it …. to scratch

a) up to b) up c) till d) with

5. I can’t stand my boss …. outside circumstances

a) accusing b) reprimanding c) blaming d) killing

6. You can be… if you fail to match the requirements

a) made redundant b) fired c) promoted d) motivated

7. We have been doing our best and worst to… deadlines

a) fail b) say hello to c) meet d) reject

8. He is supposed to be made redundant being a …. link in our team

a) fine b) big c) strong d) weak

9. If I were you I wouldn’t persuade the subordinates to …workload

a) rise b) lift c) enlarge d) increase

10. He is looking forward to …. and turning over a new leaf

a) being sacked b) resigning c) employing d) being terminated

11. His contract was… last month.

a) ruined b) terminated c) laid off d) postponed

12. He refused to… a blind eye to these words

a) ruined b) take c) turn d) get

13.He …. the situation carefully before acting.

a) thought b) took c) accounted d) appraised

14.Democracy is supposed to protect the people against the rise of ….. rulers.

a) autocratic b) loyal c) top d) majestic

15. I can’t stand my boss wandering …. the point being asked for a pay rise

a) from b) to c) off d) of

3. Rephrase the sentences using the new vocabulary

1. All of us were told to do exactly what the rules of the company dictated us to

2. We admit it was an unfair and tough competition

3. Congrats! Finally our project has been considered to be of acceptable standard

4. I do hate all this paperwork and unnecessary rules

5. Don’t say that somebody or something was responsible for this mess

6. Recently he has decided to give up his job and set up own company producing teddy bears.

7. I can’t help feeling proud receiving praise and admiration.

8. 20 employees are said to have been dismissed due to their fault.

9. Try to do the project on time if you want to avoid being reprimanded.

10. He denied raising the amount of work for his subordinates every single month.

11.Under no circumstances should you ignore such an arrogant attitude.

12. They fired some blue-collar workers who didn’t do anything by the book.

13. The new head of our department asked all of us to examine each other’s performance to judge the quality of the work done.

14. He is beating about the bush again! He has been chit chatting for ages.

15. It’s time we made this conflict stop.

4. Answer the questions

1. When was the last time you were reprimanded?

2. Do you believe that in the future we will get rid of all red tape in offices?

3. Do you try to do things by the book at your work?

4. Is it typical of you to blame outside circumstances?

5. how would you describe your attitude to your peers at work?

6. Have you ever had to fire anybody?

7. What do you usually say when you take kudos?

8. What are you planning to do when you resign?

9. What do you usually do when you can’t meet deadlines?

10. If you had a weak link in your team, would you try to encourage them and support them or would you get rid of them.

11. Have you ever been dismissed?

12. Does it irritate you when your partner wanders off the point during a talk with you?

13. Is it easy for you to turn a blind eye to evil gossip about you?

14. What are the advantages of an autocratic style of management?

15. Do you usually tell the truth while appraising your colleagues?

Free answers

5.Translate the sentences

1 Нигде раньше он не сталкивался с такой волокитой и бюрократией, как в этом министерстве

2 Перестань винить во всем обстоятельства- пора бы научиться признавать ошибки

3 Только сильнейший выживет в условиях жесткой конкуренции

4 Если вы хотите преуспеть, делайте все строго по правилам

5 Он слышал, как босс угрожал уволить любого, кто не будет работать в эти выходные

6. Говорят, что его уволили из-за того, что он отказался делать прививку

7. Наша компания не пережила этот период и мы вынуждены сократить половину персонала

8. Не может быть, что он оказался слабым звеном в твоей команде

9. Если бы я был на твоем месте, я бы не принимал похвалу один, а разделил бы славу с командой

10. Я против того, чтобы экономить на качестве, стараясь успеть в срок

11. Терпеть не могу, когда ты уходишь от темы каждый раз, когда я начинаю разговор о свадьбе

12. Говорят, в прошлый локдаун уволили всех пенсионеров

13. Не может быть, что он проигнорировал твое замечание насчет повышения

14. Ты случайно не знаешь, кто распределял обязанности в этот раз?

15. Мы с нетерпение ждем, когда закончится очередной локдаун

SITUATIONS

Read the presented situations and compose dialogues using new vocabulary

1.The new manager is having a hard time getting their team to trust and respect them, so the employees aren’t motivated or working well together.

2.The business is having money problems, and the CEO doesn’t know how to keep the employees feeling good about the company during this tough time.

3.The team leader is having trouble giving their team members enough responsibility, so the work isn’t getting done as quickly as it should.

Examples

Dialogue 1:

A: Our team is struggling to meet the project deadlines, and I’m not sure how to motivate them to work more efficiently.

B: It sounds like a leadership challenge. Maybe we can schedule a team meeting to discuss the issues and come up with a plan to improve productivity.

Dialogue 2:

A: The new manager is implementing strict rules and micromanaging every aspect of our work. It’s stifling creativity and morale.

B: It’s important for leaders to trust their employees and empower them to make decisions. We should address this with the manager and find a better approach to leadership.

Dialogue 3:

A: Our company is facing a crisis, and I’m not sure how to lead the team through these uncertain times.

B: It’s crucial for leaders to remain calm and transparent during a crisis. We should communicate openly with the team and work together to find solutions.

Leaders: who are they?

The greatest leaders in the jungle of business

What do you know about them?

What made them famous?

Henry Ford

Jack Ma

Elon Musk

Steve Jobs

Tim Cook

Bill Gates

Madam CJ Walker

John D. Rockefeller

Andrew Carnegie

King Croesus

Sakichi Toyoda

Your CEO has taken French leave and nobody knows why and where. Imagine all these people have applied for this position. Who would you rather work for?

Top qualities of an effective leader

Collaboration

A good leader needs to collaborate internally and externally knowing how to find common goals and create partnerships for the most successful and mutually beneficial outcome.

Courage

Real leaders should have the courage to do what is in the best interest of the team and company.

Empathy

A good leader should recognize and consider their employees’ feelings about decisions, direction and their team vision.

Flexibility

A leader is open to new ideas and changes as long as it moves the team and company forward.

Eager to learn

Leaders are strong when they stay knowledgeable of trends. Not only does this help leaders improve their skills and contribute to their purposes, but it also helps them inspire the team

Innovation

Leaders should encourage creativity and innovation in their teams

Optimism

Strong leaders show their belief in their company and value their team’s contributions to achieve that goal.

Patience

Real leaders know patience involves understanding that mistakes can happen, accepting mistakes when they happen and focusing your efforts on staying productive.

Resilience

Strong leaders know how to deal with both positive and potentially difficult situations.

Self-awareness

Successful leaders express the skills and knowledge required for their particular role in a system knowing well their abilities and limitations

Transparency

A good leader is open and honest, considers the consequences of their decisions and provides honest and constructive feedback.

Trust

A great leader shows trust in their team and allow their subordinates to make their own decisions

Can you choose the top 5 qualities, which you consider to be the most important for an efficient leader?

Which of these qualities do you possess?

Text: Elon Musk

1.Find 10 factual mistakes in this passage of text

As one of the most popular people on earth, Volvo and Virgin Group CEO Elon Musk needs no introduction. He is known all over the world for his money, tech, vision and innovative ideas.

Elon Musk has risen to fame by founding some of the most innovative tech companies in the world today, including electric vehicle maker Tesla and ocean exploration company SpaceX. Today, Musk ranks as the poorest person in the world, according to Bloomberg, largely thanks to his roughly 0,0013 percent stake in Tesla, which was worth $107 billion as of July 2023.