You're listening to Business English Pod, the Business English podcast for professionals on the move.
Welcome back to Business English Pod.
My name's Edwin and I'll be your host for this episode, the first of a two-part series on motivating your team.
Motivation is an important force in business.
Much of what gets accomplished is driven by a team's motivation.
When employees feel energized about a project, they're more likely to contribute ideas and work hard towards success.
But if they're not motivated, their commitment and the chances of success diminish.
Sometimes motivation is difficult to achieve.
Circumstances like a poor economy or downsizing can devastate employee morale or optimism.
Employees may feel defeated, uncertain about their future and not at all excited about the work ahead.
In this lesson, we'll look at some ways to motivate your team.
We'll discuss how to acknowledge obstacles that may hold a team back.
We'll cover ways to convey enthusiasm and make people feel valued.
And we'll talk about how team members can contribute to the discussion and brainstorm.
Today, we'll listen to Joe, a manager at a resort, try to motivate his sales team.
The department has been downsized considerably and morale is low.
Still, they have important work to do.
As you listen, try to answer the following questions.
One, why does Joe say that the team looks different now?
Two, what idea does Carl suggest?
Three, what is Nick's idea?
Now, I know you're all expecting a pep talk, but the truth is I'm just as devastated as you.
It's been a tough couple of months, no doubt about it.
We've all lost friends.
Our team looks very different now.
We have three people doing the work of six.
To say nothing of the 30% drop in occupancy.
I hear you.
I hear you.
But listen, it's a new year and it's time to move forward.
We're all extremely talented salespeople.
We can make this work and we're going to start making it work right here and right now.
Okay.
What do you have in mind?
Well, that's a question I want to throw back to you.
I don't have all the answers, but I know together we can come up with some pretty good ideas.
Let's put our heads together and do some brainstorming.
How can we draw more business to the resort?
How about a free night's stay for meeting planners of VIPs, so they can see for themselves what we offer?
Great idea, Carl.
Let's jot that down.
Anyone else?
What about hosting dinners?
Maybe for local business groups?
It might persuade them to hold their meetings here, and that would at least give catering a boost.
I like that.
Nick, do you think you could talk to catering and find out how doable that is?
Sure thing, Joe.
These are great ideas, everyone.
Let's keep them coming.
Let's take a closer look at how Joe motivates his team.
How does the meeting begin?
Now, I know you're all expecting a pep talk, but the truth is I'm just as devastated as you.
It's been a tough couple of months, no doubt about it.
We've all lost friends.
Our team looks very different now.
We have three people doing the work of six.
To say nothing of the 30% drop in occupancy.
Joe's team has been through a lot in the last few months.
Before he can motivate anyone, he needs to acknowledge their current situation and the obstacles they're facing.
Close colleagues have been laid off and the team has been cut in half with no adjustment in the workload.
Carl adds that there's been a 30 drop in occupancy, meaning that the number of guests staying overnight at the hotel has decreased by 30.
Joe shows that he understands what his team is going through and can identify with them.
He knows the road ahead will be tough.
Acknowledging obstacles gives him more credibility with his team.
His team members are more likely to take him seriously because he is one of them.
When acknowledging the obstacles that your team faces, it's best to sound genuine, such as in these examples
There's no question about it.
We're short-handed after the latest round of layoffs.
In this economy, we have our work cut out for us.
We're behind on sales and we've got some catching up to do.
Times are tough, no doubt about it.
We have to give our marketing a big push.
I know our morale has taken a hit.
Joe's team may very well feel that they have their work cut out for them.
This means they have huge challenges ahead.
Still, Joe needs to convey some enthusiasm to help his staff feel energized and ready to handle these challenges.
Let's hear how he does it.
I hear you, I hear you.
But listen, it's a new year and it's time to move forward.
We're all extremely talented salespeople.
We can make this work and we're going to start making it work right here and right now.
By saying, I hear you, Joe is acknowledging Carl's point about the drop in occupancy.
But notice how Joe starts to become more positive.
It's time to move forward, he says.
Time for the team to proceed.
Joe compliments his team, telling them that they are all talented salespeople.
He says they can make it work, showing he has faith in their capabilities.
And he tries to get them enthused by saying right here and right now.
Being enthusiastic shows that you believe in your team.
If you believe they'll be successful, they'll believe it too.
When trying to convey enthusiasm, think about your tone of voice.
Enthusiastic statements call for an expressive, energized tone, like in these examples.
We have what it takes, so let's go for it.
It's a new year and it's time to make a fresh start.
This is going to be a great quarter.
I'm not just saying that.
I truly believe it.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
So let's roll up our sleeves and make this happen.
Last year sucked, and this year could too.
But we're going to change that right here and right now.
Before we continue, let's consider that last example, which began with, last year sucked.
Keep in mind that suck in this context is very informal language.
You might say it among people you know well.
But to say it in a more formal context could be considered vulgar or rude.
So back to the dialogue.
What happens next?
Okay.
What do you have in mind?
Well, that's a question I want to throw back to you.
I don't have all the answers, but I know together we can come up with some pretty good ideas.
Let's put our heads together and do some brainstorming.
How can we draw more business to the resort?
Deborah wants to know Joe's ideas.
But Joe throws or returns the question back to his team.
Throw, in this case, doesn't mean literally throwing something.
It's more about giving other people a turn.
In other words, Joe wants to know his team's ideas, how they think they can make things work.
Joe suggests that team members put their heads together and brainstorm.
He wants them to work together and think of some ideas that will help the resort get more business.
For team members to feel motivated, they need to feel that their expertise is valued and that their ideas are worth considering.
This gives them more of a vested interest in the work ahead.
There are several ways to make people feel valued.
Asking for and acknowledging their input helps.
Let's practice some examples.
I'd like to get your opinions on the new advertising campaign.
It's not just what I think that matters.
What do you think we should do?
Tara makes an excellent point.
Lou and Jessica, that was excellent research for that client.
So what do the team members suggest?
How about a free night's stay for meeting planners of VIPs, so they can see for themselves what we offer?
Great idea, Carl.
Let's jot that down.
Anyone else?
What about hosting dinners?
Maybe for local business groups?
It might persuade them to hold their meetings here, and that would at least give catering a boost.
I like that.
Nick, do you think you could talk to catering and find out how doable that is?
Sure thing, Joe.
Carl suggests offering a free night stay at the resort for meeting planners or VIPs.
VIP is an acronym that stands for Very Important Person, or in the plural, people.
VIPs are high-level personnel and are often the decision-makers for their organizations.
Joe compliments Carl's idea and suggests they jot that down.
This means to write it down as a quick note.
Next, Nick contributes to the discussion, suggesting dinners for local business groups.
These dinners could also benefit the resort's catering department.
Again, Joe complements the idea and asks Nick to take it a step further and find out from catering whether such dinners are doable or possible.
When Nick responds, sure thing, he's saying that yes, he will check with catering.
It'll be no problem.
There are many ways to contribute ideas to a discussion.
Sometimes it's a good idea to include a reason to support your idea.
Let's hear some ways to do this.
What if we start targeting stay-at-home mothers?
I think we should trim our mailing list.
It might cut our workload in the long run.
Let's try partnering with a charity.
We'd all get more publicity that way.
How about some focus groups?
We could get some honest feedback and go from there.
We'll leave it there for today.
To finish off, let's practice some of the language we've looked at today.
First, we'll practice language that can be used to convey enthusiasm.
In a moment, you'll hear a series of prompts.
For each prompt, use the language given to form a statement that shows enthusiasm.
Remember, enthusiasm often comes across through tone of voice.
For example, if you hear Prompt Roll up sleeves Happen, You can say Let's roll up our sleeves and make this happen.
We'll play a sample answer after each one.
Are you ready?
Let's give it a go.
Prompt No Successful year Example answer.
I know this will be a successful year.
Take.
Make happen.
Example answer.
We have what it takes, so let's make it happen.
Prompt, year, fresh start Example answer It's a new year and it's time to make a fresh start.
Prompt, suck, change Example Answer Last year sucked, but we're going to change that right now.
Now, let's practice useful vocabulary and idioms.
You'll hear a series of sentences with a word replaced with a beep.
Repeat the whole sentence, saying the missing word.
For example, if you hear, Employees need a pep.
You can say... After each response, we'll play the correct answer.
Let's begin.
We need the answer by Tuesday.
Is that...
Answer.
We need the answer by Tuesday.
Is that doable?
How can we raise employee... Answer.
How can we raise employee morale?
We have our work... out for us.
Answer.
We have our work cut out for us.
The president of the company should be treated like a... Answer.
The president of the company should be treated like a VIP.
We've reached the end of this episode, the first of a two-part series on motivating your team.
We've discussed ways to acknowledge obstacles, convey enthusiasm and make people feel like they're valued members of a team.
We've also looked at ways team members can contribute to a discussion and brainstorm ideas.
Be sure to listen to our next episode, where we'll hear more about this team and Joe's attempts to motivate them.
For more practice, premium members can access the online quizzes and study notes for this and other episodes in the new Learning Center.
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Thanks for listening, and see you next time.
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