- Can I have a word with you in private please?

-  Yes, what is it? I’m incredibly busy at the moment.

-  Well, I don’t like having to say this but I think if you and I are to continue working together, we are going to have to draw up some ground rules. We’re not exactly getting along like a house on fire, are we?

-  Oh, and you think it’s all my fault, I suppose?

-  No, no, I’m not saying that! I’m just trying to get to the root of the problem and to understand where we’re going wrong. I’m not trying to lay all the blame at your feet. I know that I probably share at least fifty percent (50%) of the responsibility.

-  I’m sorry. I’m being out of order. Let’s start this conversation over again, shall we?

- Yes, let’s. As far as I’m concerned, I can’t see any good reason why you and I can’t get along a bit better.  

Situation: Two colleagues realise that their problematic relationship is making their working life very difficult.

Style: General / Informal

Functions: (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully with all of these functions.)

1.    Asking to speak with someone about an important matter: Can I have a word with you in private please?

2.    Prefacing an awkward opinion: Well, I don’t like having to say this but I think if you and I are to continue working together we are going to have to draw up some ground rules.

3.    Using understatement: We’re not exactly getting along like a house on fire, are we

4.    Reacting angrily to criticism: Oh, and you think it’s all my fault, I suppose?

5.    Apologising for an extreme reaction: I’m sorry. I’m being out of order.

6.    Expressing an opinion: As far as I’m concerned, I can’t see any good reason why you and I can’t get along a bit better. 

Notes:

1.    Can I have a word with (idiom) you..? = Could I speak to you..?

2.    in private = alone / not in the presence of other people

3.    I’m incredibly busy = I have a lot of work to do

4.    I don’t like having to say this = I would prefer to not to have to say this

5.    to draw up (phrasal verb) = to establish / to agree / to list

6.    ground rules (idiom) = basic rules or principles for how we proceed or behave

7.    We’re not exactly getting along like a house on fire = We are getting on (phrasal verb) very badly

8.    getting along like a house on fire (idiom) = having a very friendly relationship

9.    it’s all my fault = I’ve caused the problem

10. I’m not saying that = that is not what I mean

11. to get to the root of (idiom) = to find the cause of or the reason for

12. to lay all the blame at your feet (idiom) = to hold you fully responsible for it

13. I’m being out of order (idiom) = I’m being unreasonable / I am behaving badly

14. As far as I’m concerned = In my opinion

15. get along (phrasal verb) a bit better = relate to each other better / have a better relationship / get on (phrasal verb)

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Audio file name: DailyStep-5_business-communication-001_01

-  OK, I agree with you that if we’re going to work side by side, we’re going to have to establish some common ground. There’s no need for us to be at each other’s throats all the time.

-  So, what do you propose?

-  Well, we work in very close proximity to each other and our tasks overlap to some extent, so we’re bound to fall out or have disagreements from time to time. We work in a high pressure environment and a little bit of friction is inevitable.

-  Yes, I accept that and I do try to make allowances for it, but – well, to be totally frank, sometimes you just wind me up – or rather, I should say, I get wound up - and I let my emotions get the better of me.

-  So do I, you’re not the only one.  But even though we’re both part of the same team working towards the same goal, there’s no need for us to be treading on each other’s toes all the time. Maybe instead of being in competition with one another, we could pool our efforts and resources for the common good.

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Situation: Two work colleagues try to establish the reason for their differences

Style: General / Informal

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Functions: (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully with all of these functions.)

1.    Asking for input: What do you propose?

2.    Softening a negative comment: We work in a high pressure environment and a little bit of friction is inevitable.

3.    Partially agreeing: Yes, I accept that and I do try to make allowances for it, but – well,...

4.    Introducing a negative and completely honest opinion: But – well, to be totally frank, sometimes you just wind me up

5.    Correcting yourself in order to use more appropriate language: – or rather, I should say, I get wound up

6.    Using less personal, more diplomatic language to avoid causing offence: sometimes you just wind me up – or rather, I should say, I get wound up

7.    Agreeing: So do I, you’re not the only one.

8.    Suggesting an alternative: Maybe instead of being in competition with one another, we could pool our efforts and resources for the common good.

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Notes:

1.    side by side = together / next to each other

2.    to establish = to agree

3.    common ground = things to agree upon / similarities of opinion

4.    to be at each other’s throats (idiom) = to be arguing intensely with each other

5.    What do you propose? = What do you suggest?

6.    in very close proximity to = very near to / very close to

7.    tasks = jobs that have to be done

8.    overlap =  cover the same territory

9.    to some extent = to a degree

10. we’re bound to = it is inevitable that we will

11. disagreements = arguments

12. from time to time = occasionally

13. a high pressure environment = a stressful situation

14. friction = problems caused by working closely together / bad atmosphere and unfriendliness

15. inevitable = unavoidable / impossible to avoid

16. I accept that = I agree with what you have just said

17. to make allowances for it = to take it into consideration / to take it into account / to allow for(phrasal verb)  it

18. to be totally frank = to be completely honest

19. you just wind me up (phrasal verb) = you  just irritate me / you just make me angry

20. or rather = or, as a correction to what I just said,

21. I get wound up (phrasal verb) = I get annoyed or angry / I become annoyed or angry (note: the speaker has changed the verb from the active voice -  ‘you wind me up’  - to the passive voice - ‘ I get wound up’  - as this is a lot less personal and takes the accusatory element out of the comment. It is therefore a lot more diplomatic.)

22. I let my emotions get the better of me (idiom) = I allow my emotions to take control of me, and therefore I may not be act rationally

23. goal = objective

24. treading on each other’s toes (idiom) = irritating each other in areas of overlapping responsibility

25. pool our efforts = combine our forces / work together

26. for the common good = for the benefit of everyone

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Audio file name: DailyStep-5_business-communication-001_02

- One thing we could do that might help smooth over our troubled working relationship would be get a third party to arbitrate between us. What do you think?

-  It’s not a bad idea, but I don’t think any kind of mediation will be necessary. We should be able to sort it out between ourselves. We’re grown adults, after all. I think we’ve just got off on the wrong foot.

-  I believe that it would be advantageous to establish who’s doing what job. Sometimes we tend to get confused and find ourselves trying to do each other’s jobs instead of figuring out where our particular strengths lie.

-  Yes, we have certainly ended up fighting for the same piece of ground at times.

-  I propose that we try to keep out of each other’s way for the time being, you stick to your tasks and I’ll stick to mine. This will give us a bit of breathing space and then when we do have to work together it should be less problematic.

.

Situation: Two colleagues try to find a solution to their troubled working relationship

Style: General / Informal

.

Functions: (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully with all of these functions.)

1.      Making a suggestion: One thing we could do that might help smooth over our troubled working relationship would be  get a third party to arbitrate between us.

2.      Partially agreeing: It’s not a bad idea, but I don’t think any kind of mediation will be necessary.

3.      Expressing expectation: We should be able to sort it out between ourselves.

4.      Making a suggestion: I propose that we try to keep out of each other’s way for the time being, you stick to your tasks and I’ll stick to mine.

.

Notes:

1.      smooth over (phrasal verb) = to calm

2.      a third party (idiom) = another person who is neutral

3.      to arbitrate between us = to negotiate between / to make a judgement in our argument because we have appointed them in that role

4.      mediation = arbitration

5.      to sort it out (phrasal verb) = to resolve it / to fix it

6.      We’re grown adults = we’re reasonable, mature people

7.      after all (note: this phrase is used in order to add information that shows that what we have just said is true)

8.      we’ve just got off on the wrong foot (idiom) = our relationship just started off badly

9.      advantageous = beneficial

10.  figuring out (phrasal verb) = trying to understand

11.  where our particular strengths lie = what we are best at

12.  ended up (phrasal verb) = finished by

13.  piece of ground = territory

14.  to keep out of each other’s way = to make an effort to stay away from each other

15.  for the time being = for now / for the near future

16.  you stick to your tasks and I’ll stick to mine = you do your job and I’ll do mine

17.  breathing space (idiom) = space to exist / space for comfort

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Audio file name: DailyStep-5_business-communication-001_03

-  I think since having had our little discussion the other day, things have become a lot easier and we seem to be getting along with one another so much better than we were.

-  Yes, I think it was just a case of getting it off our chests, you know bringing the problem out into the open. Hopefully, we won’t fall out again.

- As far as I’m concerned, the problem has been resolved successfully and I’ve got no lingering resentments. In fact, I was just about to ask you for a little advice on this design project I’m involved in. I just don’t seem to be getting anywhere with it. I’ve hit a bit of a dead end.

-  I would be more than happy to take a look at it. Email me the file and I’ll see if I can come up with anything new - they do say that sometimes two heads are better than one.

.

Situation: Two colleagues discuss how their relationship has improved

Style: General / Informal

.

Functions: (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully with all of these functions.)

1.      Identifying the crux of a situation: I think it was just a case of having to get it off our chests

2.      Expressing a hope about the future: Hopefully, we won’t fall out again.

3.      Giving an opinion: As far as I’m concerned the problem has been resolved successfully and I’ve got no lingering resentments.

4.      Taking about the lack of progress being made: I just don’t seem to be getting anywhere with it

5.      Expressing willingness: I would be more than happy to take a look at it.

6.      Prefacing the use of a proverb or well-known saying: they do say that sometimes two heads are better than one.

.

Notes:

1.      discussion = argument / talk

2.      getting along with (phrasal verb) one another = relating to each other / getting on with (phrasal verb) each other

3.      so much better than we were  (using only the auxiliary) = so much better than we were getting along with one another

4.      just a case of = simply a situation which involved

5.      getting it off our chests (idiom) = saying what we were thinking / voicing our opinions about a problem

6.      bringing the problem out into the open = talking about the problem openly

7.      Hopefully...  = I hope that...

8.      fall out (phrasal verb) = argue

9.      As far as I’m concerned = In my opinion

10.  resolved = solved / fixed / sorted out (phrasal verb)

11.  lingering resentments = problems or feelings of animosity that won’t go away

12.  I was just about to ask you = I was on the point of asking you  / I was going to ask you...very soon

13.  this design project I’m involved in = this design project that/which  I’m involved in

14.  I just don’t seem to be getting anywhere with it = I simply don’t appear to be making any progress with it

15.  I’ve hit a bit of a dead end (idiom) = I’ve reached a point where I can’t continue / I have run out of ideas

16.  I would be more than happy to  = I would be very happy

17.  come up with (phrasal verb) = to devise / think of

18.  they do say that... = people often use the well known proverb or saying, which is...

19.  two heads are better than one (proverb)= the work of two people is better that the work of one

.

Audio file name: DailyStep-5_business-communication-001_04

- Did you manage to find the time to take a quick glance at that new design project I sent you by email yesterday? I know you’ve been up to your eyes in work recently but I could really use some fresh ideas.

-  Yes, I spent a few hours poring over it last night and I think you’re basically on the right track with it but I do have a few suggestions that might be able to help it along a little.

-  Go ahead I’m all ears.   

-  I found the basic idea stunning in its simplicity and very innovative. The only thing I thought was letting the project down was the logo.

- What’s wrong with it?

-  Well, I don’t want to offend you but lettering is not your strong point, is it?

-  It’s true, but if you’d said that to me a couple of months ago, I’d probably have hit the roof. I’m so glad we have had that little talk, it’s made communication between us so much more open and frank.

.

Situation: Giving constructive help on a project in a diplomatic way

Style: General / Informal

.

Functions: (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully with all of these functions.)

1.      Asking if someone was able to do something that may have been difficult: Did you manage to find the time to take a quick glance at that new design project I sent you by email yesterday?

2.      Saying you need something: but I really could use some fresh ideas.

3.      Recognising that someone’s work is good before making a suggestion for improvement: and I think you’re basically on the right track with it but I do have a few suggestions that might be able to help it along a little.

4.      Using diplomatic language (not too direct or strong) to give constructive criticism: but I do have a few suggestions that might be able to help it along a little.

5.      Encouraging someone to continue speaking: Go ahead I’m all ears.

6.      Prefacing a potentially offensive comment: Well, I don’t want to offend you but lettering is not your strong point, is it

7.      Expressing satisfaction: I’m so glad that we have had that little talk it’s made communication between us much more open and frank 

.

Notes:

1.      Did you manage to..? = Were you able to, possibly with difficulty..?

2.      to take a quick glance at = to look at briefly

3.      you’ve been up to your eyes in work (idiom) = you’ve had a lot of work to do

4.      I really could use = I really need

5.      fresh ideas = new ideas

6.      poring over it (phrasal verb)  = reading and studying it carefully

7.      you’re basically on the right track (idiom)  = you’ve more or less got it right / you are basically doing the right thing

8.      to help it along (phrasal verb) = to help with its progress

9.      I do have a few suggestions that might be able to help it along a little. (note: this is very diplomatic, the language is indirect and the implication is that the idea can possibly only be helped a little, with a few suggestions. In other words, the implication is that it is mostly OK. We would usually say it like this even if the design project was appallingly bad!) = I can suggest ways to improve it

10.  I’m all ears (idiom)  = I’m listening very attentively

11.  stunning = very impressive

12.  in its simplicity = in the way that it is so simple

13.  innovative = creative / new

14.  was letting the project down (phrasal verb) = was the weak part of the project / was not coming up to (phrasal verb) the standards of the rest of the project

15.  logo = lettering and/or design of a company name

16.  to offend you = to cause offence to you / to make you feel angry because of what I say

17.  lettering = designing typeface

18.  your strong point = the thing that you are best at

19.  I’d probably have hit the roof (idiom)  = I would probably have got extremely angry

20.frank = honest / straightforward

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Audio file name: DailyStep-5_business-communication-001_05