BUSINESS ENGLISH – DIFFERENT WORKING STYLES

Focus: describing how people work, comparing working styles, and discussing which working styles work best in different situations.

Goal: By the end of the meeting, participants will be able to describe their own working style and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different ways of working.

1. Welcome Back Review

Complete the sentences with language from the previous meeting.

1. You haven't seen a colleague for a few weeks. Ask what they've been doing:

What have you been ______?  

2. You've had a lot of work recently:

It's been pretty ______. 

3. You've spent a lot of time preparing a new project:

I've been keeping ______ with a new project. 

Quick question: What have you been keeping busy with this week?

2. Vocabulary – Working Styles

Make it personal: Which TWO words describe you best at work? Which ONE describes you least? Explain why.

3. Useful Phrases

I tend to…

Useful for describing what you usually do.

Example: I tend to plan everything in advance.

I work best when…

Useful for explaining the conditions you prefer.

Example: I work best when I know exactly what needs to be done.

I prefer to take a more ___ approach.

A professional way to describe your working style.

Example: I prefer to take a more hands-on approach. / I prefer to take a more flexible approach.

4. Pick a Side!

Choose A or B. You must choose one first – no sitting in the middle! Then explain why.

Challenge: Explain why using: I tend to… / I work best when… / I prefer to take a more… approach.

5. Discussion Questions

1. What does your desk or workspace say about the way you work?

2. Do you work better when you have a lot to do, or when you have plenty of time?

3. Would you rather work with someone who is very fast but sometimes makes mistakes, or someone who is slow but extremely thorough?

4. Have you ever worked with someone whose working style was completely different from yours? How did it work?

5. If you have an important deadline in two weeks, when do you realistically start working on it?

6. Do you think being a perfectionist is a strength or a weakness at work?

7. Would you rather have a manager who checks your work regularly or one who leaves you completely alone?

8. Which tasks do you enjoy doing alone, and which are better with other people?

9. If you suddenly had a completely free afternoon at work, with no urgent tasks, what would you actually do with it?

10. Which would annoy you more: a colleague who is always five minutes late or a colleague who reminds you about everything three times?

6. Example Answers

1. What does your desk or workspace say about the way you work?

Mine is usually quite organized. I'm pretty methodical, and I find it difficult to concentrate when there's too much clutter.

2. Do you work better when you have a lot to do, or when you have plenty of time?

Surprisingly, I work best when I'm quite busy. If I have too much time, I tend to procrastinate.

3. Would you rather work with someone who is very fast but sometimes makes mistakes, or someone who is slow but extremely thorough?

I'd probably choose the slower person. I'm quite detail-oriented myself, so I'd rather wait a little longer and know the work is accurate.

4. Have you ever worked with someone whose working style was completely different from yours? How did it work?

Yes. I like planning ahead, but one of my colleagues was much more spontaneous. It was frustrating sometimes, but we actually complemented each other quite well.

5. If you have an important deadline in two weeks, when do you realistically start working on it?

I'd like to say immediately, but realistically I probably start properly about a week before.

6. Do you think being a perfectionist is a strength or a weakness at work?

Both. Attention to detail is valuable, but perfectionists can sometimes spend too much time on things that aren't that important.

7. Would you rather have a manager who checks your work regularly or one who leaves you completely alone?

I'd rather have someone who leaves me alone. I tend to be quite proactive, so I don't need someone checking everything I do.

8. Which tasks do you enjoy doing alone, and which are better with other people?

I prefer to do detailed work alone, but brainstorming is definitely better with other people.

9. If you suddenly had a completely free afternoon at work, with no urgent tasks, what would you actually do with it?

I'd probably deal with all the small things I've been putting off and then organize the rest of my week.

10. Which would annoy you more: a colleague who is always five minutes late or a colleague who reminds you about everything three times?

Probably the person who reminds me three times. Being five minutes late wouldn't bother me as much as feeling that someone doesn't trust me.