Conversation Practice to Improve Your Business English — 35 Common Situations

technical, but our team is capable, it's good to know if you need any additional resources, currently not, but I'll let you know if we get it right. Remember that communication is key. Of course, I will make sure there are regular updates, which is important for the success of the project. we are all committed to making this a successful lesson 15 how to solve problems in the workplace listen and

practice

hello Lisa there is a problem in the team I need help hello Paul what is the problem there is a conflict between two team members conflict what is the cause it's about workload distribution Have you spoken to them individually?

Not yet. I wanted to get

your

advice first. It is good to understand both sides first. I plan to meet with them separately. It's a good approach. Keep an open mind after that, if we have a joint discussion. Yes, but only after understanding. Well, I want to solve the problem without escalating, that is the best way to handle it calmly. I will try to mediate and find a fair solution. Take into account team harmony. Team dynamics are absolutely important. Let me know if you need help. Thanks Lisa. I appreciate

your

support, you're welcome Paul, let's keep our workplace positive.

Lesson 16, make small talk, listen and

practice

. Hi Emily, how was your weekend? Hi John, it was good. Thank you I went on a hike and yours relaxed. I read a little. What book do you currently like? I'm reading a novel about historical Rome, it sounds fascinating. I love history books. Which is the title? Empires and emperors. Have you read it? No, but I'll add it to my list. Do you do it often?hike yes, almost every weekend nature is refreshing I agree maybe I should join you sometime that would be great do you like the outdoors?

I do photography it's a perfect hobby of mine there are some beautiful places to photograph I'm looking forward to it what's your favorite trail is there one by the lake that is absolutely serene. I've heard about it, there must be quite a few. Is awesome. At some point I'll show you some photos. I would like to. Thanks Emily anytime. John, let's plan that walk. Lesson 17, discussion of company policy. listen and practice Hi Sarah, have you seen the new company policy updates? Hi David, yes I just read the email, what do you think of the new remote work guidelines?

They seem flexible, two days of remote work per week, yes it's a good balance, do you think it will be? affects productivity I think it could actually

improve

Agreed that people could be more relaxed What about the dress code? It's more casual now, which I think is definitely a good move. Convenience can boost morale. Any ideas on new training programs. They seem comprehensive, especially the leadership training. I was thinking the same thing: are you considering signing up? Yes, I am interested in developing my skills further. Me too, continuous learning is absolutely important. It's good to see the company investing in the US.

Yes, it shows that they value their employees. In fact, it is a positive step. Lesson 18. planning a

business

trip listen and practice hi Laura, we need to plan our trip to the New York office hi Mike, yes, when are we thinking about going? How about the first week of next month works? If we fly on Monday, Monday is perfect. time to prepare we agree on how many days we will need there I would say 3 days we have several meetings scheduled sounds good if we book a nearby hotel yes something close to the office would be convenient I will look into it if I have any preferences in flight times an early flight would be better can we rest and then prepare well, I will find the earliest flight available great, let's also schedule a team meeting before we leave to discuss the agenda and expectations exactly, we need to be well prepared I will organize the meeting for next week thanks Laura this trip is important for our project understood Mike we will make it successful lesson 19 travel booking Arrangements listen and practice hello Anna can you help me book a flight hello Paul, are you sure where you are going? the conference in Berlin next month, okay, do you have specific dates in mind from the 15th to the 19th?

I'll check flights, any preference on airlines, something with comfortable long Legro flights can be tiring. I understand, what about your hotel? Stay somewhere nearby? the conference venue would be ideal. I'll find a hotel within walking distance. It would be great. You can also get a rental car. Of course, do you need it for the entire Valentine's Day? Only for the first and last day. I have it. I'll take care of all the details thanks Anna I appreciate your help no problem Paul I'll confirm everything soon lesson 20 attend a networking event listen and practice hi Emily are you going to the networking event tonight?

Hi Tom, yes, I'm planning to go, what about you? Is it a great opportunity to meet industry colleagues? Have you been to this event before? No, this is my first time. Some tips, be yourself and have lots of

business

cards. Good advices. How do you usually approach

conversation

s? I start by talking about

common

interests in our industry makes sense, keeps the

conversation

relevant exactly and don't forget to listen active listening is as important as speaking, speaking correctly definitely helps build genuine connections. I'll keep that in mind, any particular person you're hoping to meet, yes. Some potential clients and collaborators networking can really open doors, we can make the most of it tonight.

Looking forward to it thanks for the advice Emily, no problem Tom, see you there, lesson 21, managing time effectively, listening and practicing Hi Rachel. I'm struggling with managing my time. Any advice? Hi Chris, have you tried making a daily to-do list? I haven't, it helps, yes, it helps you prioritize and focus on important tasks. Sounds good, how detailed should it be, include key tasks and allocate time for each one I'll try, what about unexpected tasks? Allocate some time for unexpected work. It's a great idea. And meetings take a long time. I will only attend meetings that are necessary.

I'll keep it in mind. What about multitasking is best to focus on? one task at a time for efficiency I thought multitasking was productive, it can actually reduce the quality of your work. That makes sense. I'll start with these tips. Thank you. You are welcome. Managing time well increases productivity. Lesson 22. Establish goals and objectives. Listen and practice. Hi Emma, ​​I'm setting my goals for the term. Any advice? Hi John, Start with clear and achievable goals. They must be short or long term. A combination of both short-term goals leads to long-term achievements. How specific should I be?

More specific. the better it gives you Management understood it, what about measuring progress? Set milestones to track your progress. Sounds useful. Should I write them down? Yes, writing down goals makes them more tangible. I will do it, and if I fall behind, I will adjust your plan, but don't do it. Lose sight of the end goal. I will remember any other advice. Share your goals with an accountability mentor. It is a good idea. I'll talk to my boss about them. Big goals keep you focused and motivated. Lesson 23. Collaboration with teammates. Listen and practice. Hi Sarah, how can we

improve

our team collaboration?

Hi Mark, regular communication is key. If we had more meetings, not necessarily more, but more effective, it makes sense. How about we share the work clearly? Define roles and responsibilities that would help and encourage decision making. On behalf of everyone, it is a good idea how we handle disagreements with respect and focusing on finding solutions. I will remember that remote team members use collaborative tools and schedule regular check-ins. Technology really helps. Any suggestions on tools. Project management software can be very helpful. I'll look into it thanks for the advice Sarah no problem good teamwork leads to success lesson 24 how to handle customer queries listen and practice hi Lisa I'm new to customer service any advice on how to handle queries hi Alex always listen carefully to the client's needs I take notes yes, it helps you remember the details and keep track.

What if I don't know the answer? It's okay to say that you will find out and communicate with them. That's reassuring. How about difficult customers staying calm and empathetic? They try to understand your perspective. I will try and answer emails will be clear, concise and polite, I will address your concerns directly. What about tracking? Always confirm that your issue has been resolved. It seems important. Any final advice. Treat every inquiry as an opportunity to improve customer satisfaction. Excellent advice. Thanks Lisa. You're welcome, good customer service is crucial. Lesson 25 How to make a sales speech. Listen and practice.

Hello Emily. I'm preparing a sales pitch. Any suggestion. Hello. Tom. Start by understanding the customer's needs. How detailed should I detail our product, but focus on how? It makes sense that I should anticipate the questions and prepare answers especially for the difficult ones. I'll work on that, how about the presentation style? keep it engaging and interactive use visuals if possible good idea what if they don't seem interested? change the focus ask them questions to re-engage, that's smart, how long should the presentation be? be concise, respect their time. I'll try to have any final advice end with a solid summary and call to action that should make an impact.

Thanks for your help, Emily. welcome a good speech can make a difference lesson 26 closing a deal listen and practice hi jessica im close to closing a deal any last minute advice hi eric making sure you have addressed all your concerns i have in case i reiterate the main benefits yes , emphasize how your product meets their needs. I have it. What about the contract? Review it carefully before the final meeting. I'll check back if I talk about future support. They should definitely know that they are in good hands. I will assure you of our continued service. support what happens if they want more time, give them space but set a follow-up date makes sense any closing strategy ends on a positive note that summarizes the value you offer.

I will do it and the negotiation will be flexible, but don't commit too much. on your terms I'll keep that balance thanks Jessica, you're welcome good luck closing the deal lesson 27 discussing budgets and finances listen and practice hi Karen I need advice on how to discuss budgets with the team hi Brian start by describing the current financial situation Should I include financial reports detailed? Provide summaries. Too many details can be overwhelming. Makes sense. How do I address budget cuts. Be honest but also explain the reasons behind them. I will be clear about this and if there are questions please answer them directly and if not.

I don't know, I promise to find out. I will be prepared for questions. How about the future budget? Discuss plans and get input from the team. Team input is a good idea. Any advice to make it attractive. Use visuals to illustrate points and keep it interactive. I will include some graphs thank you Karen, you are welcome clear communication is key in financial matters lesson 28 celebrating birthdays at work listen and practice hi Sarah how should we celebrate birthdays in the office hi Mark maybe a small celebration during break time we should Get each person a cake, yes, and maybe ask each person their preferred type of cake.

Good idea, what about the gifts? A simple, thoughtful gift from the team would be nice. I will organize a collection of gift decorations, just a few balloons or streamers to keep it. festive but not over the top I'll keep it simple if we make it a surprise yes, surprises always make it more special. I also believe it. How about we sing Happy Birthday? It's definitely a nice touch. I will coordinate it with the team. Thanks for the ideas, Sarah. You're welcome, birthdays are a great way to build team spirit. Lesson 29. Share productivity tips. Listen and practice.

Hello Emily. I'm trying to be more productive. Any advice. Hi Tom, have you tried the Pomodoro technique? No, what is it? It usually works in concentrated intervals. 25 minutes and then taking a short break sounds interesting. I'll try. What about task management? Prioritize your tasks daily and tackle the most important ones first. I'll start doing it. Any tips for email management check your email at specific times, not constantly. That's good. Ideas and meetings should be short, and to the point, I have noticed that long meetings can be unproductive. Any tool thatyou recommend. Task management software can help you keep track of everything.

I will investigate them. Thanks for the advice. Emily. You're welcome, you'll find what works. for you it is the key lesson 30 embrace the company culture listen and practice hi Laura I am still adapting to the company culture any advice hi Jason try to participate in company activities and social events. I've been a little undecided if they're important, yes. I am excellent at understanding company values ​​and people. I will make an effort to join the feedback culture. I will be open to giving and receiving constructive feedback. I'll keep it in mind. How about the dress code? Observe what others wear, but be faithful. to your professional style, I got it, what if I have ideas to contribute?

Speak up in meetings or discuss them with your team. I'm full of ideas. Collaboration Collaboration is key. Work closely with your colleagues. I will try to collaborate more. Thanks for the advice. Laura, you're welcome, embracing the culture makes work more enjoyable. Lesson 31, conversation in a factory, listen and practice. Hi Jane, how is the assembly line working today? Hi Tom, it is working without problems. There were no problems. Great, did you update the maintenance records? Yes, I did it first thing in the morning. Perfect morning, there are enough safety supplies, we are short of gloves. I will order more, call for any updates on machine calibration.

The technician checked them yesterday. Everything is good, excellent, how is the new staff adapting? They are doing well, they are still learning, but they are catching up. Come on quickly, that's good to hear, let's make sure they get the proper training. Absolutely safety and efficiency. They are our main priorities. We agreed that production goals for this week are on track. Yes, we are even a little ahead of schedule. Awesome. Keep up the good work. Jane, thanks Tom. We will keep you informed of any updates lesson 32 job interview listen and practice practice good morning Sarah I'm David, the hiring manager.

Good morning David, it's a pleasure to meet you. Nice to meet you too. Why are you interested in this position? I'm excited. about the opportunity to contribute my skills to your team, what relevant experience do you have? I have three years of marketing experience that aligns with this role. That's great. How do you handle tight deadlines? I prioritize tasks and stay organized to meet headlines efficiently. Good approach. As? Do you work in a team? I believe in open communication and collaboration. Those are important here. What is your greatest strength? My adaptability. I thrive in dynamic environments.

Adaptable employees are vital. Any questions for me. Yes. What is the team culture here? We value collaboration and continuous learning. sounds perfect to me thanks for this opportunity lesson 33 dismissal listen and practice hello Emily we need to talk about your performance hello Mark I understand, let's talk about it unfortunately he has not met our expectations. I've been trying to improve. Can I get another one? We may have given several warnings and not seen enough progress. I realized that there is something I can do right now. We have to let you go. That's dissappointing. What is the next step?

We will provide a severance package and job search assistance. I thank you how much time do I have your?employment ends today but we will support you for the next month thanks for the support I will gather my things we wish you the best in your future endeavors thank you Mark I have learned a lot here lesson 34 restructuring listen and practice hi Lisa, we need to discuss the restructuring of the company Hi John, yes I heard about the changes, it is a difficult decision but necessary for our growth, how will it affect our department? We have to reduce our team by 10%, that is unfortunate, how will we decide that we are evaluating based on performance? and skills, it is going to be a difficult time for everyone, we understand and will support those affected, what kind of support will be offered, job search assistance and severance packages, it is good to know that we must handle this sensitively, absolutely, we We will communicate clearly and compassionately. important to maintain morale during this time lesson 35 end of the day listen and practice hello Karen, it's almost the end of the day, how did it go?

Hi Mike, it was productive thanks and you're busy but I managed to finish the report, that's great, there are plans later. work I could go to the gym And you? I'll probably relax at home tonight. Sounds like a good plan. Do you need help before you leave? No, I'm ready, thanks for asking, no problem, how is the project going? It's on the right track. I'll have an update tomorrow, I'm looking forward to it, let's close the office. I'll definitely turn off the lights. Thanks Karen, have a great night, you too Mike, see you tomorrow.