Business English Pod / Management English / Page 10

BEP 153 – Management English: Motivating your Team (1)

Business English, Communication, ESL Podcast, Management English /

Management English - Motivating your Team 1

This is the the first of a two-part Business English Pod series on motivating your team.

Motivation is an important force in business. Much of what gets accomplished is driven by a team’s motivation. When employees feel energized about a project, they’re more likely to contribute ideas and work hard toward success. But if they’re not motivated, their commitment – and the chances of success – diminish.

Sometimes, motivation is difficult to achieve. Circumstances such as a poor economy or downsizing can devastate employee morale, or optimism. Employees may feel defeated, uncertain about their future, and not at all excited about the work ahead.

In this lesson, we’ll look at some ways to motivate your team. We’ll discuss how to acknowledge obstacles that may hold a team back. We’ll cover ways to convey enthusiasm and make people feel valued. And we’ll talk about how team members can contribute to the discussion and brainstorm.

Today we’ll listen to Joe, a manager at a resort, try to motivate his sales team. The department has been downsized considerably and morale is low. Still, they have important work to do.

Listening Questions:

1. Why does Joe say that the team looks different now?
2. What idea does Carl suggest?
3. What is Nick’s idea?

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BEP 142 – Presentations: SWOT Analysis 2

Advanced, Business English, Management English, Presentation in English /

This is the second in a 2-part Business English Pod series on presenting a SWOT analysis.

A SWOT analysis is a tool that helps companies understand their strengths and weaknesses, while keeping in mind the opportunities and threats they face. In this way, companies can take a look at both the internal and external factors that can impact their success. This information can be used in a variety of ways, such as project planning, crisis management, and competitive analysis.

In the last episode, Terry, who works at a growing accountancy firm, began a presentation for Susan, the newly hired marketing manager. Terry presented his SWOT Analysis quite casually, as a one-to-one discussion with Susan. He introduced some of the company’s strengths and weaknesses, internal factors that affect the firm’s growth.

In this episode, Terry will introduce the opportunities and threats faced by the firm. These are external forces that need to be considered before developing a new marketing strategy. As the dialog starts, Susan responds to Terry’s presentation of the company’s strengths and weaknesses, as Terry moves on to begin discussing opportunities.

Listening Questions:

1) What has the local government done in response to the current economic situation?
2) Who is in charge of the tax advisory division of the firm?
3) What does Terry think is important for Susan’s marketing campaign?

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BEP 141 – Presentations: SWOT Analysis 1

Advanced, Business English, Management English, Presentation in English /

In this Business English Pod lesson, we start the first in a 2-part series on presenting a SWOT analysis.

A SWOT analysis is a simple but powerful framework for analyzing your company’s strengths and weaknesses – these are internal to the company – as well as the opportunities and threats you face outside the company. This analysis helps you focus on your strengths, minimize threats, and take the greatest possible advantage of opportunities available to you.

In today’s lesson, we’ll focus on the first two stages of a SWOT: strengths and weaknesses. We’ll practice language for providing an overview, introducing your main strength, maximizing positive aspects, and acknowledging and introducing a weakness.

We’ll be listening to Terry, a partner at a growing firm of accountants, talking to Susan, the company’s newly hired marketing manager. Terry needs to brief Susan about the company and SWOT is a quick and easy-to-understand framework for giving a quick overview of a company and its position.

Listening Questions

1) What is the main source of business for the company?
2) What is the main strength identified by Terry?
3) What weaknesses does Terry mention?

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BVP 03 Business Vocabulary – Office Manager

Business English, Business English Vocabulary, ESL Podcast, Management English /

Today’s podcast continues our series on business vocabulary, with a special focus on collocations or word partnerships. By focusing on words that are commonly used together you can improve your vocabulary and also your ability to understand your English-speaking colleagues.

When you think of “office administration”, what are the first things that come to mind? They might be things like paperwork, filing, copying, and other boring and repetitive tasks. Most people probably don’t think of an office manager’s job as a crucial service that supports the successful running of a company and, therefore, its ability to make money.

Well, today we’re about to meet Thomas, who’s going to tell us about the role he plays as office manager at the Mexican subsidiary of a multinational chemical company.

Listening Questions

1) How does Thomas summarize his role as Office Manager?
2) What characteristics does Thomas list as important qualities of an office manager?
3) According to Thomas, what is a common misunderstanding about the best way for an office manager to do his job?

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BEP 97 – Talking about the Economy

Advanced, Business English, Business English Vocabulary, ESL Podcast, Management English /

In this Business English Podcast lesson, we’ll be studying some phrases and vocabulary that you can use to discuss the economy and economic issues, including voicing and reassuring concerns.

我们谨就最近在四川发生的地震向中国听众表达我们的同情和支持，并希望灾区人们能尽快从地震中恢复过来。

No deal gets made, no contract gets signed, no business gets done just between two people or two companies. Everything occurs against the background of networks of relationships on the local, regional, and global scales. These relationships of price and production form what’s called “the economy.” People who study the economy – economists – like to point out, for example, that the price of soybeans in Brazil can affect the price of meat in China. It’s no wonder, then, that a favorite activity of business people everywhere is talking about the economy. Only by understanding the economic environment in which we do business can we operate effectively in it.

The dialog today takes place at Kendal Marcus, a global retailer of up market clothing and accessories. A retailer sells goods to the end customer; accessories are things like jewelry and belts which go along with or “accessorize” clothing. During a trip to Shanghai, Martin, a VP at Kendal’s, is visiting Tony Wu, country manager for China.

Listening Questions:

1) Why has Martin come to China?
2) Is Tony optimistic about the economic outlook, that is the future, in China?
3) What kind of concerns does Martin have?
4) How does Tony reassure him?

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