Business English Podcast

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP044c-Starting-Conversation.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on how to start a conversation while socializing at work. For many people, starting a conversation with someone can be a huge challenge. And it doesn’t get any easier when you’re doing this in another language! But it is one of the most important skills for building professional connections. A simple chat at a conference or event can lead to new opportunities, ideas, or contacts helpful for your career. Learning to network confidently will help you feel more comfortable and prepared in professional and social situations. So what are some of the things you should think about? Well, you might start by introducing yourself, especially to someone you recognize but haven’t met in person before. You might also use questions to break the ice and start a conversation on a simple and safe topic. Informal conversations can be tricky. For one thing, you need to know how to handle a situation where you forget someone’s name. You also need to be able to find ways to keep a conversation going and, when the situation calls for it, end it politely. In this lesson, we’ll hear two dialogs that take place at an HR conference for an international company called Multi-Fresh. In the first dialog, we’ll hear Penny strike up a conversation with George. In the second dialog, Pat tries to strike up a conversation with George. Listening Questions 1. What information does Penny give when she introduces herself to George? 2. What topic does Penny mention to get the conversation started? 3. What excuse does George give for finishing his conversation with Pat? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 44c – Socializing: Starting a Conversation in English first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP043c-Meetings-Managing.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on how to manage the discussion during a meeting in English. Bad meetings can waste time and leave everyone confused. But a well-run meeting can help create new ideas, solve problems, and move a project forward. Running a great meeting is about more than just following an agenda. It means guiding the conversation effectively. If you’re running formal meetings as a manager or team leader, this skill is essential. But even if just you’re a team member who wants to make sure your team has good discussions, it’s good to understand what’s behind running a meeting. And you never know when it might be your job to facilitate. Good meeting management often means keeping the discussion focused and inviting different viewpoints or opinions. It also means widening the discussion, moving to a new agenda item, and checking for agreement. In this lesson, we’ll rejoin a meeting about budget cuts at an international shipping company. Martin, the General Manager, is facilitating the meeting. We’ll also hear Sandra, Sam, and David, three employees in the meeting. Listening Questions 1. How does Martin respond to Sam’s comment about pizza? 2. What does Martin say once they have finished talking about the outsourcing issue? 3. At the end of the conversation, what question does Martin ask everyone if they agree on? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 43c – Meeting English: Managing the Discussion first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP042c-Meetings-Starting.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on how to start a meeting in English. Many jobs require us to spend a lot of time in meetings. Sometimes we might think there are too many meetings. In part, we might feel this way because a lot of meetings aren’t run very well or facilitated effectively. There’s a good chance that you will have to run meetings some day, if you don’t already. You have a chance to make sure those meetings are effective by running the meeting well. Fortunately, running a meeting involves skills that you can learn. Today we’ll focus on starting a meeting, which begins with getting people’s attention and acknowledging them. Next, you might clearly state the purpose or goals of the meeting before reviewing the agenda with everyone. Then you may invite someone to begin speaking about the first item on the agenda. In this lesson, we’ll hear the start of a meeting about budget cuts at an international shipping company. The meeting is being led by Martin, the General Manager. We’ll also hear Sandra, David, and Sam, employees who are attending the meeting. Listening Questions 1. What does Martin apologize for as he is acknowledging the meeting attendees? 2. What does Martin say is the objective of the meeting? 3. What does Martin invite Sandra to do at the end of the conversation? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 42c – Meeting in English: Starting a Meeting first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/360.104-Collaboration-2.mp3 Welcome back to the Business English Skills 360 podcast as we look at how to build a collaborative workplace culture. Even in the most competitive companies, collaboration is key to success. In our last lesson, we looked at the benefits of collaboration, like innovation and employee engagement. Now we’ll look at the systems and approaches to make it happen. Collaboration starts with leadership. Leaders need to focus on “we,” not “I.” That means trusting their teams, being open about goals and challenges, and involving others in decisions. When teams feel trusted and included, they’re more likely to work together. Communication is key too – and it changes when you give up control. It’s no longer just about giving clear instructions. It’s about listening, understanding different ideas, and building consensus. That takes more time and effort, which means teams need some flexibility in their schedules. Collaboration also needs structure. Cross-functional teams, shared roles, and communities of practice all help break down silos. And digital tools like Slack or project management platforms make it easier to share work and ideas. Of course, not every decision has to be made as a group. Some are simple or urgent. And when trust is low, it may be best to focus on rebuilding that first. But if you want the real benefits of collaboration, you need to create the right environment: one built on trust, open communication, and the systems to support teamwork. Members: Lesson Module | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post Skills 360 – Fostering a Culture of Collaboration (2) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/360.103-Collaboration-1.mp3 Welcome back to the Business English Skills 360 podcast as we look at how to build a culture of collaboration at work. Collaboration is more than just working together or coordinating tasks. It means people share goals, ideas, decisions, and responsibility. True collaboration often involves people from different teams coming together to solve shared problems or create something new. So why is collaboration so important? One key reason is innovation. When people with different backgrounds and skills come together, they bring fresh ideas. These creative clashes often lead to breakthroughs. Collaboration also helps spread knowledge across teams. If one team finds a better way to work, others can learn from it – if they’re connected. Stronger connections also lead to greater resilience. When teams share skills and experiences, they can support each other when challenges come up. And beyond business results, collaboration boosts employee engagement. People feel more connected, valued, and motivated when they work toward shared goals. But collaboration takes effort. It’s not instant or easy. It takes time, trust, and a willingness to share control. If you want others’ input, you have to be open to their ideas, not just your own. Collaboration can bring big rewards, but it also comes with challenges. In part two, we’ll explore what teams and leaders can do to support collaboration through strong communication, trust, and the right systems. Members: Lesson Module | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post Skills 360 – Fostering a Culture of Collaboration (1) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP-415-Purchasing-6.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on English for purchasing. This lesson looks at language for evaluating proposals from vendors. Business is all about buying and selling. And just as your company sells products to individual consumers or other companies, you also have to purchase goods and services to make it all happen. For ongoing purchasing relationships, this means evaluating different vendors to find the best match. So, when you sit with your team to evaluate vendor proposals, what will you talk about? These discussions often involve comparing pricing, timelines, quality, and service. You might also talk about warranties, reliability, and risks. And just like any group process, the quality of the decision will come down not just to the facts in front of you, but your ability to communicate clearly about them. In conversations about vendor proposals, there are several aspects you might consider. You might assess risk as well as vendor capacity. You might also evaluate the total cost and compare value, as opposed to the basic contract price. And finally, you might prioritize the different criteria you use to assess the vendors. In today’s dialog, we’ll listen to a conversation between managers at a fitness equipment company called xFit. Hazel, Adam, and Nick are evaluating proposals to choose a manufacturer of a specific part for their line of treadmills. In previous lessons on purchasing, we heard xFit choose a company called VinMech to produce a part for a different exercise machine. Listening Questions 1. What does Adam say about SteelWorks production capacity? 2. What does Nick say adds value to VinMech as a possible vendor? 3. Which criteria does Adam say are the most important consideration in this decision? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 415 – Purchasing 6: Managing Purchase Orders first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP-414-Purchasing-5.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on English for purchasing. This lesson looks at language for evaluating proposals from vendors. Business is all about buying and selling. And just as your company sells products to individual consumers or other companies, you also have to purchase goods and services to make it all happen. For ongoing purchasing relationships, this means evaluating different vendors to find the best match. So, when you sit with your team to evaluate vendor proposals, what will you talk about? These discussions often involve comparing pricing, timelines, quality, and service. You might also talk about warranties, reliability, and risks. And just like any group process, the quality of the decision will come down not just to the facts in front of you, but your ability to communicate clearly about them. In conversations about vendor proposals, there are several aspects you might consider. You might assess risk as well as vendor capacity. You might also evaluate the total cost and compare value, as opposed to the basic contract price. And finally, you might prioritize the different criteria you use to assess the vendors. In today’s dialog, we’ll listen to a conversation between managers at a fitness equipment company called xFit. Hazel, Adam, and Nick are evaluating proposals to choose a manufacturer of a specific part for their line of treadmills. In previous lessons on purchasing, we heard xFit choose a company called VinMech to produce a part for a different exercise machine. Listening Questions 1. What does Adam say about SteelWorks production capacity? 2. What does Nick say adds value to VinMech as a possible vendor? 3. Which criteria does Adam say are the most important consideration in this decision? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 414 – Purchasing 5: Evaluating Vendor Proposals first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP041c-First-Round-Interview-2.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on the skills you need to succeed in a first-round job interview in English. A job interview is a chance to highlight your achievements and talk about the amazing things you’ve done in your career. By talking about what you’ve achieved, you can show how your experience fits the position. And by showing how your strengths have helped you, you can convince the interviewer that you’re the right person to hire. If only it were that easy, though! Interviewers aren’t going to ask you only about the good stuff. They’re going to ask about difficult things as well. That means they might ask you about problems in your current or past jobs. And they might also ask you that dreaded question: what are your weaknesses? But don’t worry. You know these questions are coming, so you can get ready. Think of some difficult situations you’ve been in. Focus on the ones where you were able to solve a problem or deal with difficult people. And think about your weaknesses honestly, and how you’ve tried to improve on these things. In that way, you’ll be able to face the tough questions confidently. In this lesson, we’ll rejoin William as he interviews for a position at a bank in Hong Kong. William is being interviewed by Mike, an HR manager at the bank. You will hear how William deals with difficult questions, and how he isn’t afraid to discuss problems and how he dealt with them. Listening Questions 1. William talks about a problem with short-term loans. What does he say was the cause of this problem? 2. What does William say is one of his strengths? 3. What does William say is one of his weaknesses? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 41c – Interview English: First-Round Job Interviews (2) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP040c-First-Round-Interview-1.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on key skills for a first-round job interview in English. If you find job interviews stressful, you’re certainly not alone. Many people struggle to feel confident and comfortable in interview situations. And there’s the added worry that the stress you feel will make it even more difficult to answer the questions well. But you can reduce this stress with effective preparation. You know that you’ll be asked certain types of questions. So you can make notes about your responses, or make an outline of important ideas that you want to talk about. You can also develop skills to make sure you’re being clear and accurate in your responses. So what should you prepare and what skills should you develop? Well, for starters, you should be ready to introduce yourself and your career path, and to summarize your current job responsibilities. In terms of skills, it’s good to practice clarifying the words you use, buying yourself time, and connecting your answers back to the question. In this lesson, we’ll listen as William is interviewed for a position in business development at a bank in Hong Kong. He’s being interviewed by Mike, an HR manager at the company. This is a first-round interview, and you can hear William show how comfortable and skilled he is at responding to the questions. Listening Questions 1. What information does William give about his education and work history? 2. What does William say about his management style? 3. What does William say to buy himself time to think of an answer? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 40c – Interview English: First-Round Job Interviews (1) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEN59-DeepSeek.mp3 In this Business English News lesson on recent hiring trends, we look at business English vocabulary related to IT English and the DeepSeek AI chatbot. A surprise development in artificial intelligence is making waves across the industry. DeepSeek, a Chinese AI lab, has upended expectations, drawing global attention and raising new questions about the future of AI. With new players entering the field and established giants forced to respond, this moment could redefine how AI is built, funded, and controlled in the years ahead. The drama kicked off at the start of the year, as the Financial Times reports: A small Chinese artificial intelligence lab stunned the world by revealing the technical recipe for its cutting-edge model. This has transformed its reclusive leader into a national hero who has defied US attempts to stop China’s high-tech ambitions. DeepSeek, founded by hedge fund manager Liang Wenfeng, released its R1 model, explaining in a detailed paper how to build a large language model on a bootstrapped budget. Free Resources: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post Business English News 59 – DeepSeek first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP-413-Technology-Idioms-2.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for the second part of our series on English idioms related to technology. Every day you use dozens of high-tech devices and apps to communicate, plan, organize, monitor and store information. It’s almost impossible to imagine the workplace before modern technology. It’s also almost impossible to imagine the English language without all the idioms we use related to technology. If you want to be on the same wavelength as expert English speakers, you can’t ignore idioms. And I just used a prime example there. If you are “on the same wavelength,” it means you understand each other. This comes from radio technology, where you have to be tuned to the same frequency to receive a signal. As you can see, an idiom has a special meaning that isn’t always clear. You can think about the words on their own, but that won’t help you. You need to learn idioms as chunks of language, with a special meaning beyond the individual words. In this way, you will be able to communicate even better in English. In this lesson, we’ll rejoin a conversation at an engineering company between Maggie, Antonio, and Finn. They are continuing their conversation about upgrading the tech systems in their company. In their discussion, they use many idioms related to technology. See if you can spot some of these, and we’ll explain them later in the debrief. Listening Questions 1. What does Antonio say about HR and their training plans? 2. Why didn’t the company move to PayWorks software a couple of years ago? 3. How does Antonio describe the new servers that are available? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 413 – Business English Idioms about Technology (2) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP-412-Technology-Idioms-1.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on business English idioms related to technology. The world of tech has given rise to a host of new vocabulary and terminology. Think about a phrase like “to reboot,” which originally referred to restarting a computer but is now commonly used to mean starting over in any context. Idioms like that highlight how mastering language goes beyond just grammar. Indeed, many language learners spend a lot of time trying to figure out the nuts and bolts of a language. By that I mean the grammar, writing system, sounds, and basic vocabulary of a language. The thing is, once we’ve got the nuts and bolts, it can feel like our progress stalls. Getting to the next level requires you to move beyond basic vocabulary and master expressions like idioms. For example, a second ago, I mentioned the “nuts and bolts” of language. Nuts and bolts are a way of connecting things made of metal. So why am I using those words when I talk about language? Because “nuts and bolts” is used as an idiom to refer to the basic parts or pieces of something. And with technology as such an important part of our lives, it’s no wonder we have so many English idioms related to technology. In this lesson, we’ll listen to a conversation at an engineering company. The company is led by Maggie, Antonio, and Finn. They’re talking about how the growth in their company requires upgrades to all their tech systems. In their discussion, they use many idioms related to technology. See if you can spot some of these, and we’ll explain them later in the debrief. Listening Questions 1. Near the start of the meeting, what does Finn say he wants to avoid doing? 2. What does Maggie worry might happen if they don’t improve or “level up” their tech systems? 3. What does Antonio say the company did with Zoom not long ago? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 412 – Business English Idioms about Technology (1) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/360.102-Interview-Skills-2.mp3 Welcome back to the Business English Skills 360 podcast as we continue our look at advanced interview skills for interviewing and hiring the right people. Effective interviewing is essential for finding the right candidate. That’s not just someone with the right qualifications but also the right mindset and skills for long-term success. Beyond education and experience, advanced interviewing techniques can help identify critical thinking, problem-solving ability, and workplace compatibility. Spotlight on Critical Thinking Critical thinking is a vital 21st-century skill that isn’t always listed in job descriptions. It involves analyzing, evaluating, and making logical inferences – all crucial in today’s fast-paced work environments. To assess this, use scenario-based questions tailored to the role. For instance, ask: “You are tasked with creating a low-budget marketing campaign. What steps would you take to ensure its success?” Such questions delve deeper than generic prompts, revealing a candidate’s thought process and creativity. Challenge-Specific Questions Understanding how candidates handle challenges is key to gauging their suitability. Ask direct questions about common role-specific difficulties. For example: “This role involves tight deadlines. How do you manage pressure?” Responses can reveal practical strategies and resilience. Workplace Compatibility Discuss workplace setups—whether hybrid, remote, or in-office—and ask how candidates thrive in these environments. Instead of a simple yes/no question about preferences, explore strategies they’ve used to succeed in similar settings. This helps you understand whether they’ll adapt to your unique work culture. Long-Term Goals Assessing a candidate’s career aspirations ensures alignment between their goals and the role. Questions like “Where do you see yourself in five years?” can clarify whether the position supports their professional journey. With rising costs, fierce competition, and high turnover, effective interviewing is more critical than ever. By evaluating critical thinking, adaptability, and alignment with your workplace, you’ll make informed hiring decisions that benefit both the candidate and your company. Members: Lesson Module | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post Skills 360 – Advanced Interview Skills for Effective Hiring (2) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/360.101-Interview-Skills-1.mp3 Welcome back to the Business English Skills 360 podcast as we look at advanced interview skills for interviewing and hiring the best staff. Interviewing effectively is a skill that goes beyond asking common questions – it’s about uncovering the ideal candidate who fits both the role and the organization’s culture. Here’s how to elevate your interviewing game. Start with Fit Interviewing isn’t just about verifying skills; it’s about evaluating fit. A candidate may have the right experience but still might not align with your company’s values, mission, or work style. Frame your questions around this concept. For instance, “Can you describe a workplace where you felt most productive?” helps identify if their preferences match your environment. Values Matter Understanding a candidate’s values is key to predicting how they’ll integrate into the team. Ask open-ended questions like, “What motivates you most in your work?” or “What does success look like to you?” Such questions provide deeper insights into their core drivers and compatibility with your organization’s culture. Assess Soft Skills During the Interview Strong soft skills such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving often make the difference in team performance. Use the interview to dig deeper: ask candidates to share examples of handling conflicts or overcoming challenges. Observe their responses for clarity, tone, and adaptability. This will help you gauge their interpersonal and emotional intelligence. Build Rapport without Bias Creating a comfortable environment helps candidates show their true selves. Begin with job-related small talk, avoiding potentially sensitive topics like family or health. Remember, rapport shouldn’t overshadow diversity. A hiring panel with varied perspectives can provide valuable insights and help counter biases. Adopt Fair Practices Blind screening of resumes and consistent, structured interview questions can mitigate bias and ensure objectivity. This approach prioritizes finding the most qualified candidate rather than the one who interviews most smoothly. Ultimately, an effective interview isn’t about who you personally like most – it’s about finding evidence of alignment with the job, the team, and the company. Perfecting your interviewing strategy is the foundation of successful hiring. Members: Lesson Module | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post Skills 360 – Advanced Interview Skills for Effective Hiring (1) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP039c-Reporting-Progress.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on reporting on the progress of a project. Project management isn’t just for people who consider themselves a “project manager.” No matter what kind of work you do, you’ll likely have to lead or participate in some kind of project. And if you are a project manager, then today’s lesson is particularly important. Reporting on progress can happen in various settings, ranging from formal meetings with stakeholders to more casual interactions, like a quick chat at the water cooler or over a coffee. While the tone and format may differ, the core principles remain the same. Effective communication in these moments is crucial to keep everyone aligned and ensure no details slip through the cracks. For example, you’ll likely want to ask for an update and confirm key details. You’ll also have to identify follow-up actions, assign responsibility, and establish clear deadlines. Ultimately, strong reporting and follow-up skills are essential to fostering accountability and driving projects to successful completion. In this lesson, we’ll hear a project manager named Rudi giving updates to his boss, Wolfgang. They work for a company that maintains and modifies jetways, the bridges that connect airplanes to the airport gates. They’ve been working on a project to modify jetways at an airport for a large type of plane called an A380. Listening Questions 1. How does Wolfgang respond to the possible problem that Joe has identified? 2. What actions does Wolfgang ask Rudi to take after he mentions Joe’s solution? 3. After they discuss costs and budget, what topic does Wolfgang ask about near the end of the conversation? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 39c – English for Project Management: Reporting on Progress first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP411-Integration-2.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson, the second in our series on integrating the operations of two companies. These lessons will focus on discussions about how to merge, or integrate, companies and operations. Mergers can bring enormous benefits to corporations. They can lead to greater efficiency, greater market share, greater value, and greater access to talent. But there are a thousand and one things that might get in the way of a successful integration. And to overcome these potential roadblocks, you need a strategic approach. Mergers are part negotiation. Your company has a lot to gain, but you can’t sign everything away too easily. For that reason, you may find it important to assert your position at crucial times and to emphasize issues you consider critical. In taking a strategic approach, it’s also important to identify those big challenges or roadblocks I mentioned. Once you’ve done that, you can address these challenges. And it’s always helpful if one of the companies has gone through a merger before. In that case, you can reference prior experience as you plan the integration. In today’s dialog, we’ll rejoin a conversation between two Chief Operating Officers of companies that are planning to merge. Michelle and Alex are discussing how the integration will happen and addressing challenges along the way. Listening Questions 1. What major challenge does Michelle identify related to integrating the IT systems? 2. What particular issue does Michelle emphasize needs to be considered besides technical issues? 3. What does Alex suggest to counteract worries about people leaving the company? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 411 – Mergers: Discussing an Integration Plan (2) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP410-Integration-1.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson, the first in our series on integrating the operations of two companies. These lessons will focus on the conversations we have when talking about how to merge or integrate companies and operations. There’s an old saying that strategy is 95% implementation. There’s no better proof of this than in the merging of companies. Coming to terms on a buy-out is difficult in and of itself. But once the agreement has been made, there’s the incredibly difficult work of making it happen. Integrating companies requires us to think and talk about every aspect of business, from the nuts and bolts of accounting to the fuzzy aspects of culture. There’s a lot at stake, not just for the owners but for every single person who works for the two companies. In discussing an integration, it’s important to lay out a clear timeline and to build in feedback mechanisms to ensure things go as smoothly as possible. You will have to bring up concerns effectively and suggest ways to smooth the transition. And you may find yourself referring back to previous agreements as you work out all the details. In today’s dialog, we’ll listen to a conversation between Alex and Michelle, two Chief Operating Officers. Alex’s company has just bought out Michelle’s company, and they’re meeting to discuss how the integration will roll out. Listening Questions 1. What concern does Michelle raise after Alex lays out a possible timeline? 2. What previous agreement does Michelle refer to? 3. What does Alex suggest to ensure a smoother leadership transition? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 410 – Mergers: Discussing an Integration Plan (1) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEN58-Hiring-Trends.mp3 In this Business English News lesson on recent hiring trends, we look at business English vocabulary related to human resources and recruitment. The world of HR is radically different than it was just five years ago. Today, we’re seeing unprecedented movement in the workforce. And as companies compete to recruit and retain talent, several key trends have emerged. One relates to how we evaluate potential recruits, as Forbes explains: Skill-based hiring is all the rage these days. Companies are moving away from relying solely on degrees and traditional qualifications, instead zeroing in on the specific skills candidates bring to the table. It makes sense, especially in industries where the pace of change is relentless. Skills are easier to match with job requirements, and with AI playing a bigger role in recruitment, it’s more efficient to identify those who can hit the ground running. Free Resources: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEN 58 – HR: Hiring Trends first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP037c-Presentations-QA-2.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for the second part of our lesson on English for presentations and handling a question and answer session at the end of a presentation. Presentations can be stressful. Speaking in front of the public, or even just your colleagues, makes even confident people nervous. And there’s one part of a presentation in particular that might dial up the nerves: the questions people ask at the end of your presentation. The Q&A requires you to think on your feet. Some of the questions you get might be really difficult. And for that reason, it may be important to check that your answers are sufficient for the question-asker. At the same time, the questions might not even be relevant! So you’ll need a strategy for that situation as well. Sometimes a person will ask a question that you think you’re not the best person to answer. In that case, you can figure out who to redirect the question to. And if this entire Q&A situation is stressful, well at least you have some control. You can control the timing, instead of letting it go on forever. In this lesson, we’ll continue listening to a Q&A in a meeting at a steel company. Nick, a sales director, has just given a presentation. He and his boss Max are dealing with questions from Bryan and Cindy. Listening Questions 1. After telling Cindy about measures of success, what question does Nick ask her? 2. What does Max say about Cindy’s question regarding morale and how the sales staff are feeling? 3. How does Nick respond to John’s question about marketing in the U.K.? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 37c – English for Presentations: Questions and Answers (2) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP036c-Presentations-QA-1.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on how to deal with the question and answer session at the end of a presentation in English. A presentation can be planned, organized, scripted, and rehearsed. But that’s simply not possible with the questions you might get at the end of your presentation. Sure, you can try to anticipate what people might ask, but you never really know. They may refer to specific points in your presentation and challenge you on these points. For this reason, you need the skills to handle whatever you’re faced with. And sometimes that means overcoming doubt or resistance to your ideas. You might have to use buffers to deal with tough questions and concede certain points to your audience. You may also find yourself clarifying a point and paraphrasing your audience’s questions. In this lesson, we’ll listen to the Q&A following a presentation in English by Nick, a sales director for a steel company. Bryan and Cindy are posing some difficult questions. Nick, and his boss Max, are using several techniques for dealing with these questions. Listening Questions 1. How does Nick respond at first when Bryan asks a tough question about the survey results? 2. Cindy begins to ask a question about retraining the salespeople. What does Nick say to clarify what he meant? 3. How does Nick deal with Cindy’s question about measuring success? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 36c – English for Presentations: Questions and Answers (1) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.