You're listening to Business English Pod, the Business English podcast for professionals on the move.
Hello, and welcome back to Business English Pod.
My name's Edwin, and I'll be your host for today's lesson on how to discuss solutions to a problem.
It's not enough just to find problems or talk about problems at work.
We need to figure out how to solve them, and problem solving is one of the most important skills in any workplace.
In fact, almost every meeting, conversation, or teleconference includes some problem solving.
Sometimes talking about solutions means making suggestions.
In other words, you've got an idea about how to solve the problem and you want others to listen to it.
In that case, you need to be able to use the language of suggestions.
Of course, just because someone suggests an idea doesn't mean it's a good idea.
Another skill we need is to be able to disagree carefully, so we don't upset people or make them feel like they're being attacked.
And when you disagree with someone, you might want to suggest another way of solving the problem.
These are all important skills when talking about solutions.
In today's dialogue, we'll listen to a teleconference about a problem with paint fumes at a factory.
The meeting is being led by Jim, who will show us how to start a teleconference.
We'll also hear Jack, Dan and Angie, who are all talking about different ways of solving the problem.
As you listen to the dialogue, try to answer the following questions.
1.
What solution does Dan suggest?
2.
When Jack disagrees with Dan's idea, what does he say before showing his disagreement?
3.
What solution does Jack suggest instead of Dan's solution?
Good morning.
This is Jim on the line in California.
Is this Jack?
Yes, it is.
And is everybody there on your side yet?
Yes, I have Dan and Angie with us now, so let's get started.
I suggest we brainstorm some ideas and then choose one or two for further study.
Would anyone like to get the ball rolling?
Dan, I believe you've looked at the air quality problem and have something you'd like to comment on.
Thanks, Jim.
Yes, it seems to me that the fumes are coming from the paint ovens, where we bake the paint to make it dry faster.
I'd like to suggest that we get rid of the ovens and just let the paint dry naturally.
That's worth looking into, Dan.
But it's very humid down here, so I'm not sure if the paint would dry properly.
Well, what about using outdoor heaters?
I'm not really sure that would solve the humidity problem, even though... Can I make a suggestion?
I believe Dan is correct.
The ovens are the problem.
But rather than getting rid of them, why don't we install a better ventilation system to clear the air?
I suppose we could do that, Jack, but that sounds expensive.
And we've been thinking more along the lines of changing the way we do things rather than spending a lot more money.
Now let's go through the dialogue again and look at the language the team used in their teleconference.
The meeting begins with Jim greeting everybody on the line or on the call.
Good morning.
This is Jim on the line in California.
Is this Jack?
Yes, it is.
And is everybody there on your side yet?
Yes, I have Dan and Angie with us now, so let's get started.
I suggest we brainstorm some ideas and then choose one or two for further study.
Would anyone like to get the ball rolling?
As you can hear, at the start of a teleconference, we need to identify ourselves.
Nobody can see us, so we have to say who is on the line or on our side of the phone call.
Once it's clear who's on the line, Jim starts the meeting.
How does he do this?
Well, it can be as simple as saying, let's get started.
That's very clear for everyone listening.
Jim says a bit more than that, of course.
He also mentions what they'll do in the meeting and asks if anyone wants to get the ball rolling or speak first.
The important thing, however, is that you state very clearly that you want to start the meeting.
Let's practice a few more ways of doing this.
Okay, thanks for calling in everyone.
I think we can start now.
Everyone's on the line now, so let's get started.
Alright folks, let's begin here with some updates.
If everyone can hear okay, why don't we begin?
Jim asks who would like to speak first.
But after a short pause, he invites Dan to start the discussion.
Dan, I believe you've looked at the air quality problem and have something you'd like to comment on.
Thanks, Jim.
Yes, it seems to me that the fumes are coming from the paint ovens, where we bake the paint to make it dry faster.
I'd like to suggest that we get rid of the ovens and just let the paint dry naturally.
The problem is about air quality and paint fumes.
In other words, the chemical smell from the paint is unhealthy.
Dan wants to suggest a solution to this problem.
His solution is to not use ovens to dry the painted parts, as this creates more fumes.
And to introduce this suggestion, he says, I'd like to suggest...
There are a few other common ways of introducing a suggestion.
We can say, how about, why don't we, or maybe we could.
Let's give these expressions a try with a few more examples.
How about we try talking to Jim about this issue?
Why don't we think about relocating to a different area?
Maybe we could look for a new supplier.
What would you think about going to that trade show in Chicago?
So what do others think of Dan's suggestion?
That's worth looking into, Dan.
But it's very humid down here, so I'm not sure if the paint would dry properly.
Jack wants to disagree with Dan.
But he can't just say, I disagree, or that's a bad idea.
We need to be diplomatic or careful when we talk about other people's ideas.
Jack does that by saying something positive, then saying, but, before disagreeing.
That's a really great way to disagree carefully.
And we can also use other words that make our disagreement softer, like might or maybe, or I'm not so sure.
I know what you mean, but I think it would be quite a challenge.
Well, that might be a bit too expensive for us.
I'm not so sure that's the best choice in this situation.
I'm sorry, Dave, but I'm not totally convinced of that.
Now let's get back to the dialogue as the group discusses some other possible solutions.
Well, what about using outdoor heaters?
I'm not really sure that would solve the humidity problem, even though...
Rather than getting rid of them, why don't we install a better ventilation system to clear the air?
In a problem-solving meeting, we can't just disagree or criticize people.
If we think someone's idea won't work, it's a good idea to suggest something else or an alternative.
Remember, Dan's idea was to get rid of the ovens.
Now Jack says, rather than getting rid of them, why don't we improve the ventilation system?
The ventilation system is the equipment that removes the paint fumes and replaces it with fresh or clean air.
To do this.
Jack uses some of the language of suggestion that we already learned and he also uses rather than to show that he's talking about an alternative to another idea.
What are some other ways we can suggest alternative solutions to a problem?
Let's run through a few more examples.
We might think about advertising online instead of in the newspaper.
That's one idea, but we could also look at less expensive alternatives.
Maybe it would be better to hire a younger person.
Instead, why don't we see if we can get a discount?
Now let's finish up by hearing Angie's thoughts on Jack's alternative solution.
I suppose we could do that, Jack, but that sounds expensive.
And we've been thinking more along the lines of changing the way we do things rather than spending a lot more money.
Angie's doing exactly what Jack did earlier when he disagreed with Dan.
She says something positive before using the word but to introduce her disagreement.
So, as you can hear, discussing solutions to a problem is all about making suggestions, disagreeing carefully and suggesting alternatives.
We keep doing this until we find a solution that works.
Now let's practice some of the language we just learned with a short role play.
Imagine that you are leading a teleconference.
One person in the meeting is going to introduce a problem that you will need to discuss.
You'll hear a cue from a person in the meeting.
Then I'll give you a suggestion for what you can say in response.
We'll guide you through each step in the practice and provide an example answer for each response.
Ready?
Let's give it a go.
I think everyone is on the line now.
First, begin the teleconference and ask if anyone has any updates.
Answer.
Okay then, let's get started.
Does anyone have any updates?
Yes, I just wanted to mention that I'm having trouble with the website.
Now, suggest a person call Dave in IT for help.
Maybe you could call Dave from IT for some help.
Well, I could, but the guys in IT are just way too busy these days.
Next, disagree carefully, saying that Dave should have some time to help.
Answer.
I know what you mean, but Dave should have some time to help.
All right, then.
I'll see if he can come over next week sometime.
Now suggest that it might be better to ask Dave to come this week.
Answer.
It might be better to ask him to come this week instead.
To finish off, let's practice some of the vocabulary and expressions we've covered in this lesson.
In a moment, you'll hear a series of sentences with a word replaced with a beep.
Repeat each sentence, including the missing word.
For example, if you hear, Well, I was thinking more along the of blue for the website.
You can say, Well, I was thinking more along the lines of blue for the website.
After each response, we'll provide the correct answer.
Let's begin.
Hi everyone, it's Kelly on the here in Los Angeles.
Answer.
Hi everyone, it's Kelly on the line here in Los Angeles.
The workers are complaining about the... from the gas station.
Answer.
The workers are complaining about the fumes from the gas station.
Sorry everyone, but we are still missing Kate on our... here.
Answer.
Sorry everyone, but we are still missing Kate on our side here.
It's 3.05, so is everyone okay if we get the ball... now?
Answer.
It's 3.05, so is everyone okay if we get the ball rolling now?
That's all for this lesson, the first in a series about discussing solutions.
We've learned how to start a teleconference, as well as how to make suggestions, disagree carefully and suggest alternatives.
In the next lesson, we'll hear the group continue their discussion.
They'll use some other common language techniques as they try to find a good solution to the problem of the paint fumes.
Thanks for listening and see you again soon.
