preparations unit 7: Management skills

1. Jarno Noteboom English 2B 2MA01
Preparations Unit 7: Management skills
Starting up
A. Whichof these statementsdo you agree with?Explain your reasons.
8. Use polite language atall the times
=> I thinkit’simportant tokeepitprofessionally onthe workfloor.
10. Commentonthe personal appearance of theirstaff.
=> It’simportantto lookformalandreasonable,especiallyif youmeetclients.So the appearance of
the staff is a thingthat mustbe mentionedbythe managersif it’snotgood.
B. What is the role of a manager? Choose your top three rolesfrom the followingandexplain
your ideas
1. Role model
 The manager have to be a kindof an example forhis/herstaff. If the staff see the manager
as a role model.Theywill definitelymake more efforttosucceedtheirworks.
2. Decision-maker
 It’simportantas managerto take initiative andmake decisions.If youdoubtabouta lotof
things.Ittakestoo much time andtime ismoney.
3. Leader
 A managerhave to be a leaderforhisstaff because youmustto show whothe bossis in
some cases. The staff have to listentoyou.
C. How important are these factors in judgingthe successof a manager?
The loyaltyof staff: A goodteam andespeciallyaloyal teamisveryimportantfora companyand for
the successof a manager.Withouta goodteam, it’sveryhard to get successful asmanager.
Achievementofresults:A companyand a manageronlycan survive withgettingprofits.Otherwhile
theywill be bankrupt.Soachievingresultsisveryimportanttosuccessasa manager.
Popularitywith their superiors: It’s importanttobe popularwiththe superiorsbutithasn’tbe a
privilegetoachieve that.Asmanager,youmustto have focuson yourteam andon the goals.All the
rest.The successandthe popularitycomeslaterif yousucceedyourtargetgoals.

2. Jarno Noteboom English 2B 2MA01
Vocabulary
A. Give the opposite meaningfor each of these adjectives,usingthe prefixesin-,ir-,un-,il- or
dis-.Then provide thennoun forms.
Considerate:inconsiderate,consideration
Competent:incompetent,competency
Creative:uncreative,creativity
Diplomatic:undiplomatic,diplomacy
Efficient:inefficient,efficiency
Flexible:inflexible,flexibility
Inspiring:uninspiring,inspiration
Logical: illogical,logic
Loyal: disloyal,loyalty
Organised:unorganised,organisation
Decisive:indecisive,decisiveness
Responsible:irresponsible,responsibility
Sociable:unsociable,sociability
Supportive:unsupportive,support
B. Mark the stress on the positive adjective andnoun forms in exercise A.Listenand check
your answers.
C. Choose the four bestqualitiesofa manager using the adjectivesin exercise Aand rank
them inorder of importance (1= most important). Then choose the four worst qualitiesand
rank them(1 = worst).
Best:
1. Creative
2. Organised
3. Social
4. Decisive
Worst:
1. Disloyal
2. Irresponsible
3. Unsupportive
4. Indecisive
D. Match these pairs ofcontrasting management styles.
1.Autocratic Democratic(d)
2.CentralisingLaissez-faire (f)
3.Directive Collaborative (a)
4.EmpoweringDelegating(c)
5.Hands-onControlling(b)
6.ask-oriented People-oriented(e)

3. Jarno Noteboom English 2B 2MA01
E. Discuss these questions
1. Whichmanagementstyle(s) wouldyoulike toexperience /have you experienced?
I wouldlike toexperienceamanagementstyle where Ihave goalstosucceedbutto achieve those
goals,I maydo it on myown wayso I getsome responsibility,evenit’sgoingwrong…Idefinitely
wanta teamwitha good atmosphere withoutratbags.A goodatmosphere givesabettermannerof
teamworkIthink.
2. How wouldyoudescribe yourownmanagementstyle?If youare nota manager,whatdo
youthinkyour managementstyle wouldbe?
I wouldcreate a greatatmosphere because Iworknow ina companysometimesandthere’sagreat
atmosphere.Everyonesmilesthereandisavailable foralittle talkora joke.Inthose casesit’sa joy
to go to yourwork,so that’s one thingI definitelywant.Ialsoorganise severalteambuildingactivities
to improve thatatmosphere andthe relationsbetweenmyemployees.Besidethe atmosphere Iwill
alwayslistentomyemployees,evenitare critical issues.Ioverthinkeverythingmyemployeessaid
and I will come toconclusionsthatare the bestfor our companyand team.
3. What qualitiesdoyouthinkyoupossessorlack?
I’mverysocial so my employeeswill neverbe afraidof me toask somethingIthink. I’malsoquiet
creative soI alwaysgive myopiniononsomethingsowe can discussitwiththe whole teamuntil we
getthe bestsolution.Beside thatI’malittle bitdisorderedsoagood accountancydepartmentand
secretaryare necessaryI think.
Listening
A. Laurie Mullinsisthe author of Managementand Organisational Behaviour.Listentothe
first part of the interview.Whichtwo factors influence the managerial functiontoday, and
what are the two examplesthatLaurie givesof these factors?
The abilitytomanage in an increasinglycompetitive,volatile,changing,businessenvironment.
=> Example:The growthof the so-calledBRICKnations(Brazil,Russia,India,ChinaandKorea).
The manager todayhas to manage withan increasingrate of technical change.
=> Example:The so-calledinformationcommunicationstechnology,whichisoftenshownasICT.
B. Listento the second part. Whichsix managerial philosophiesdoesLaurie mention?
- Consideration,respectandtrust
- Recognitionandcredit
- Involvementandavailability
- Justice
- Positive actiononanindividualbasis
- Emphasisonendresults
-

4. Jarno Noteboom English 2B 2MA01
C. Listento the final part and complete these extracts.
Some managersbelieve inthe needfor directionandcontrol throughan organisedsystemof central
control,formal organisation structure,systemsof routine,andthe beliefthatit’snatural forpeople
to try to getaway withwhat theycan…
Othermanagersbelieveinthe integrationof individual andorganisational goalsandthat people can
be committed to the goalsof the organisation,inwhichcase theywill exercise self-directionand
self-control.
Reading
A. Discuss these questions.
1. What do youlike ordislike aboutthe managementstyle inyourorganisation?
Like earlierinthispreparation,I’ve toldthatIlike the atmosphereinthe companyIworksometimes.
It all beginswiththe managerof the company.He’salwayslaughingandisalwaysreadytomake a
joke or a small talkaboutyour weekendoranythingelse…he givesyouapositive energyboostto
workwitha smile onyour face and that’swhateveryone wantsIthink.
2. What wouldyourideal workplace be like?
Firstof all,a bossor managerwho isunderstandingforseveralsituations.Secondlyalsogoodand
gentle colleaguesbecause half of yourday,youspentwiththemsoit can be betteramusingthan
annoying.
B. Read your article quicklyand decide whichof these statementsare true for the CEO you
read about.
Thinkmostmeetingsare a waste of time. =>Jim Buckmaster
Are good at makingdecisionsquicklyandfirmly. => Anna Wintour
Want people toknowwhoisthe boss. =>Anna Wintour
Thinkartificial deadlines are stressful. =>Jim Buckmaster
Believe inhiringthe beststaff youcan. =>Anna Wintour
Thinktheirstaff feel happyworkingthere. =>Jim Buckmaster
C. Read your article again. In pairs, compare and contrast the stylesof the two CEOs.
JimBuckmaster:nohard hierarchy,untraditional philosophy,opendoormeetings
AnnaWintour:competitive,aperfectionist,impatient,detailed

5. Jarno Noteboom English 2B 2MA01
D. Whichof these adjectivesdo you thinkdescribe Anna Wintour?
 Perfectionist,demanding,ruthless
E. Match the adjectivesin the box to the definitionsbelow.
Notcaring if you have to harm otherstoget whatyou want.  Ruthless
Not satisfiedwithanythingunlessitisexactlyright.  Perfectionist
Havinga natural abilitytodosomethingwell.  Talented
Wantingto achieve somethingbythemselves.  Self-motivated
Againstforcingpeople toobeystrictrules.  Anti-authoritarian
Friendlyandeasytotalk to.  Approachable
Expectinga lotof time and effortfromothers.  Demanding
Liable to suddenlybecome angry.  Volatile
F. Complete thisparagraph with adjectivesfromexercise E.
At mylast company,the managerswere remote andnotat all approachable. Theywere hardto get
to know.The onlyone whoshowedanyemotionwasthe CEO,whohad a volatile temper.He was
completelyruthlessanddidn’tcare abouthisstaff at all.He actedlike a dictator.He hada
perfectionistmanagementstyle,insistingthateverythingwasexactlyright.He wasalsovery
demanding,makingusworkreallyunsociablehours.Inmynew company,the managersare good
communicators,decision-makingisopenandtransparentandthe style is anti-authoritarian.
Managementisby consensus.All the staff are talentedandexpertsintheirownfields.Theyare self-
motivatedand trustedto workwithsupervision.
Language review
A. Look at the JimBuckmaster article on page 145 and say what all the words in red referto.
We  JimBuckmasterandhiscompany
That sort of thing The arcade games
It  The arcade games
It  The atmosphere
I  JimBuckmaster
We  JimBuckmasterand hiscompany
Those things  thingshe disliked

6. Jarno Noteboom English 2B 2MA01
Our  The employeesof JimBuckmaster
It  Theirwork
They  The employees
They  Deadlines
They  Artificial deadlines
It  Empty subject
We  JimBuckmasterand hiscompany
My  Hisown will (JimBuckmaster)
That  The managerial position
You  JimBuckmaster
There  The companyof JimBuckmaster
It  Philosophy
Their The employees
Them The meetings
They  Closed-doormeetings
B. Look at the firstparagraph of the Anna Wintourarticle on page 69 and find an example of
it as an ‘empty’subject.
It shouldalsobe saidshe commandsa loyal bandof friendsandadmirers.
C. Look at the Anna Wintourarticle again and underline all the examplesoftextreference.
Use this checklistto helpyou
 See text
D. Say what all the words you underlinedinexercise Creferto.
She:AnnaWintour
She:Annawintour
That: she is the mostpowerful womaninfashion
That: The name Annawintour
It: emptysubject
She:AnnaWintor

7. Jarno Noteboom English 2B 2MA01
That: representthe bestof whattheydo
That: the look
It: AnnaWintourheremployees
Which:ideas
It: Work
That: emptysubject
She:AnnaWintour
It: Whenshe islookingat yourwork
It: That herdeskis sofar away
E. Read this paragraph and say what the former and the latter referto.
Wintour’scriticsdescribe hermanagementstyle asautocratic,whilsthersupporterslabel it
perfectionist.The formerbelieveshe isruthlesslydetermined,whereasthe latterwouldrathersay
she isfocusedonexcellence.
Former:the people whoknowherat the beginningof hercareer.
The latter:the people whoknowhernow.
Skills
A. Jason Harding, Sales Manager ofthe drinks company Quench Products,is giving a
presentationto some customers. Listento both parts of the presentationand answerthese
questions.
What isthe name of the product?
 QuenchIcedTea
Whenwill itbe launched?
 Nextmarch
What are itsunique sellingpoints?
 The several flavours:lemon,green,strawberryandgrape + alsoa sweetened,unsweetened
and dietversionof the drink.
What will the audience take awaywiththem?
 An informationpackwithalinktoa website where youcandownloadphotosand
informationaboutthe Quench IcedTea.

8. Jarno Noteboom English 2B 2MA01
B. Listento the first part of the presentationagain and complete these extracts.
1. I’m goingto tell youaboutour new icedteathat’ll be launchedearlynextMarch.
2. What is QuenchIcedTea?What are its unique features?
3. The fact that we offeritin differentversions will give itadefiniteedge overthe
competition.
4. I want to stressthat. In otherwords,it’sgota wide appeal.
5. This will undoubtedlyappeal to health-consciouscustomers.Andthat’s a majorselling
point of our product.
C. Listento the second part again and complete these extracts.
1. Turning now to the teaitself.Asyouknow,ourcompanyusesonly high-qualitytea…
2. Please take a lookat the slide.
3. What doesthis mean? It meansthat once again,we’re offeringcustomers choice.
4. You can see from the slide thatthe bottlesare beautifullydesigned ,very eye-catchingand
appealing.They’ll really standout on the shelf.
5. So to summarise,we’re offeringcustomersunique,delicious,thirst-quenchingproduct.A
productthat’ll appeal to differenttastesandwhichhas outstandingdesign. It’ll …be
supportedbya comprehensive marketingprogramme.