Workplace Communication
Conversations at Work
Goal for Today’s Class
Learn to carry on an appropriate conversation in a workplace setting
Today’s Agenda
Importance of communicating clearly in the workplace
Aspects of workplace communication – Register
Identifying different registers
Breakout activity
Grammar – Indirect Questions
Breakout activity
Idioms in a Business Context
Explanation of homework
Workplace communication skills are very important. Incorrect
workplace communication can:
• cause problems at work.
• cause people to ignore you.
• send the wrong message.
Important aspects of workplace communication:
• Register
• Correct Grammar
• Appropriate vocabulary
o Idioms
o Phrasal verbs
Register is:
the way a speaker uses language differently in different circumstances.
• Choice of words
• Tone of voice
• Body language
It can be:
• Formal
• Informal
• Intimate
(Wife to Husband)
• Hi honey, how was your day?
• Great. We got a lot done. And yours?
• Fine, but stressful. Pass me that magazine, please.
• Here you go.
(Friend to Friend)
• Hi Charlie, can you give me a hand?
• Sure Peter. What's up?
• I can't get this to work.
• Are you sure the switch is on ?
(Employee to boss or manager - for workplace communications)
• Good Morning, Mr. Jones, may I ask you a question?
• Certainly, Robert, how can I help you?
(Boss or manager to employee - for workplace communications)
• Excuse me Peter, we seem to be having a problem with the Smith
account. We'd better get together to discuss the situation.
• That's a good idea Ms Amons, would 4 o'clock suit you?
See how well you understand correct register usage in these following workplace
situations. Choose the appropriate relationship for these phrases from the choices
listed below.
Colleagues / Boss to Employee / Employee to Boss / Inappropriate for workplace
• I'm afraid we're having some problems with your performance. I would like to see
you in my office this afternoon.
• What did you do last weekend?
• Hey, get over here now!
• Excuse me, do you think it would be possible for me to go home early this
afternoon? I have a doctor's appointment.
• Well, we went to this wonderful restaurant in Yelm. The food was excellent
and the prices were reasonable.
• Listen, I'm going home early, so I can't finish the project until tomorrow.
• Excuse me Bob, would you mind lending me $10 for lunch. I'm short today.
• Give me five bucks for lunch. I forgot to go to the bank.
• You are an extremely handsome young man, I'm sure you'll do well at our
company.
• Excuse me Ms Brown, could you help me with this report for a moment?
Indirect Questions
• Used in a formal, polite situation (no “tu” or “vous” in English!)
• Introductory phrase + question word + positive sentence
• Do you know … ?
• I wonder / was wondering ….
• Can you tell me … ?
• Do you happen to know ...?
• I have no idea ...
• I'm not sure ...
• I'd like to know ...
• Question word: what, when, where, how, why, which
• Positive statement: She bought a new car.
• Combining these elements gives us the indirect question:
I wonder why she bought a new car.
• Examples
• Where is Jack? > I was wondering if you know where Jack is.
• When does Alice usually arrive? > Do you know when Alice usually
arrives?
• What have you done this week? > Can you tell me what you've done
this week?
• How much does it cost? > I'd like to know how much it costs.
• Which color suits me? > I'm not sure which color suits me.
• Why did he leave his job? > I wonder why he left his job.
Take each direct question and create an indirect question with an introductory
phrase.
• What time does the train leave?
• How long will the meeting last?
• When does he get off work?
• Why have they waited so long to react?
• Are you coming to the party tomorrow?
• Which car should I choose?
• Where are the books for the class?
• Does he enjoy hiking?
• How much does the computer cost?
• Will they attend the conference next month?
Idioms That Can Be Used in a Business Situation
• to cut corners – to complete a task in the easiest, quickest, and
cheapest way
• to have one’s work cut out for him – when work is difficult to do and
there’s not a lot of time to do it in
• to touch base – to reconnect with someone briefly
• to bite your tongue – to not say what you really think
• to be in hot water – to be in trouble
• to show someone the ropes – to to show someone how to do a job or
an activity
• to step up to the plate – to be responsible for something when it
needs to be completed
• to go to bat for someone – to assist or support someone in whatever
way they need
• to be out of my league – to be too far out of reach, to be unattainable
• to rock the boat – to do or say something that upsets people
• Lindsay: “So can you finish your part by Thursday? The teacher is mad we
have been late. She says we are in ________________________. “
• Michelle: “Yes I will make sure it gets done. I know I need to finally
___________________. I’ve got___________________________. “
• Lindsay: “It’s ok. If you have trouble, I will go____________________. I know
you have had a lot of trouble with technology.”
• Michelle: “Thanks. Do you think Harvard University is
out______________________?”
• Lindsay: “No! You can do it! Get your work done, but just
don’t___________________!”
• Michelle: “Okay, I’ll ________________ with you tomorrow.”
In this roleplay, Michelle is Lindsay’s teammate on a class project.
• Lindsay: “So can you finish your part by Thursday? The teacher is mad we
have been late. She says we are in hot water. “
• Michelle: “Yes I will make sure it gets done. I know I need to finally step up
to the plate. I’ve got my work cut out for me. “
• Lindsay: “It’s ok. If you have trouble, I will go to bat for you. I know you have
had a lot of trouble with technology.”
• Michelle: “Thanks. Do you think Harvard University is out of my league?”
• Lindsay: “No! You can do it! Get your work done, but just don’t cut corners!”
• Michelle: “Okay, I’ll touch base with you tomorrow”
And with that,
Let’s call it a day!
