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Skills 360 – How to Say No (Part 1)

Business English, Business Skills 360, Communication /

The Skills 360 podcast is now available in iTunes: Free Subscription

Why is it so difficult to say “no”? Well, of course you want to be polite, and kind, and agreeable. And if it’s your boss who is asking you for something, you may fear losing favor or opportunities. And if it’s a client or customer asking for something, you might not want to ruin the relationship.

But what I want to tell you is that in many cases you should say no. And you should know how to say it. You need to be clear, firm, and honest.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you usually find it difficult to say “no” when someone asks you to do something?
2. Who do you have the most difficulty saying “no” to?
3. Why do you think saying “no” can sometimes be difficult?

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Skills 360 – Negotiations 2: Making the Deal

Business English, Business Skills 360, Negotiating /

The Skills 360 podcast is now available in iTunes: Free Subscription

Welcome back to the Skills 360 podcastfor the second part of our look at getting the most out of your negotiations.

Today we’re going to tackle the actual negotiation. What should you be thinking about and saying when you’re sitting down at the table working on a deal? Important points to keep in mind include exercise restraint, don’t take things personally, look beyond money, make sure you get more than you give, and be willing to walk away.

Discussion Questions

1. What do you find the most stressful part of negotiating?
2. Do you think you are good at bargaining? Why or why not?
3. Think of your last negotiation. How successful were you?

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Skills 360 – Negotiations 1: Doing your Groundwork

Business English, Business Skills 360, Negotiating /

The Skills 360 podcast is now available in iTunes: Free Subscription

Welcome back to the Skills 360 podcast for today’s lesson on getting the most out of your negotiations.

Negotiation is something we all have to do on some level. You might be part of a team discussing a huge contract, or on the phone trying to get a good deal on office supplies, or in your manager’s office asking for a raise. Negotiation happens every day. In fact, you might say that in business everything is negotiable.

Discussion Questions

1. In your job, what do you have to negotiate?
2. How do you usually prepare for a negotiation?
3. What do you think are the keys to successful negotiation?

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Skills 360 – Dealing with Problem People (Part 2)

Business English, Business Skills 360, Communication /

The Skills 360 podcast is now available in iTunes: Free Subscription

We’ve been looking at how to deal with problem people. These are the people in your office that drive you nuts because they’re so difficult to get along with. Last week we talked about how to deal with specific incidents. Today, we’re talking about ongoing issues.

This is about the constant thorn in your side, whether it’s your colleague, your boss, or the IT guy that gets annoyed every time you ask for some information. In extreme cases, these people can make you dread going to work each day. So how can we deal with them?

Discussion Questions

1. Have you had to deal with a co-worker who caused you continual problems?
2. At what point do you think you should involve a supervisor when you have a problem with a colleague or co-worker?
3. Do you naturally discuss problems openly or do you tend to keep things in?

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Skills 360 – Dealing with Problem People (Part 1)

Business English, Business Skills 360, Communication /

The Skills 360 podcast is now available in iTunes: Free Subscription

The New Year is a really important time for most people. For one thing, we use it as a time for setting goals. And if you want some help doing that, be sure to check out the Skills 360 podcast on achieving your goals. The New Year is also a time when we feel refreshed and optimistic about the future. It’s a brand new start, right? Unfortunately, that feeling is not shared by everyone. You might go to the office in the New Year with a smile on your face, but there are people who seem determined to wipe it off. I’m talking about problem people.

Discussion Questions

1. What types of people do you find difficult to deal with at work?
2. How do you usually deal with people who are rude or uncooperative?
3. Have you ever wanted to change jobs because of someone you didn’t get along with?

Free Resources: Transcript | Quizzes | PDF Transcript

Download: Podcast MP3