BE 402: How to Respond to Change at Work in English｜Business English from All Ears English

This is the business English podcast episode four, oh two, how to respond to change at work in English.

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This is real business English with your favorite American hosts, Lindsay and Michelle, coming to you from New York City and Colorado, U .S .A.

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Hey, Lindsay, how are you?

Good. How are you? Michelle?

How's it going? I'm good.

I'm good. Lindsay, have you ever had to change plans quickly or suddenly for something at work?

Oh, for sure. This happens a lot, right?

We have to be able to pivot and make a change What about you Michelle has this happened to you before needing to change plans?

Oh, yeah Well, I mean it happens sometimes even to us right if we need to change recording times something something happens Right where people with real lives and but right we've been able to somehow make it work for over 10 years It's amazing right things come out people have doctor's appointments or there's emergencies sometimes and this is just all part of being a professional Just communicating it right being able to communicate that.

Yeah, so be able to have that flexibility and be like a little bit nimble.

Think on your feet, figure things out, these problems, solve these types of things.

That's huge for work.

So today we're going to talk about a great way to express this in English that can definitely be used both in or out of the business world.

Yes, I love it. And maybe our listeners heard us drop the key phrase for today.

But the expression is change of plans, right?

change of plans very common I use very all the time right now we're gonna change of plans yep how does it sound Michelle does it sound casual to you formal I think it sounds I think it could be used both ways I think it's interesting how you said it because I if you say there's been a change of plans that sounds a little bit more formal but sometimes people just say up change of plans yes doing this right so it kinda depends on what no I I was just gonna say with the pronunciation, change of plans.

Change of plans, change of plans.

Yes. Yes. Exactly, so it can kind of be either, but it might depend how you present it, how you say it.

And what's around it, if it's just more sudden.

So let's just do an example of how this could be used, all right?

You wanna read it? Yes, here it is.

Okay, everybody, change of plans.

We are not gonna have our meeting today anymore.

How is tomorrow at two p .m. for everyone?

Yeah, so that one sounds a little bit, maybe a little more formal but also casual at the same time because we just threw out the phrase change of plans.

Exactly, exactly. All right here's another one, change of plans.

The vendor isn't available that day so we have to find someone else.

Who can look into this for me?

Yeah, it's just so incredibly common that this comes up and this is a good way to build rapport with your colleagues to show that you're a valuable employee that you're willing to work with these.

if you're so rigid and not willing to work with this kind of thing it's not a good sign right right i mean how do you feel though lindsay when there's some sort of change of plans do you get nervous do you go with the flow do you do you like the variety i i think it depends on my expectations i know when it comes to like for us recording i know that sometimes we might need to shift around the time that we record but we know we'll always get our episodes done right And that's an understanding, that's really important.

So it kind of depends on the expectations, and do I think this thing is gonna eventually get done?

Or am I worried that it's not going to get done?

What's on the line?

What's the end game?

Yeah. Yeah, exactly.

Interesting. Yeah, that's true.

I mean, why might people have to change plans?

We throw some of them out already.

Maybe we just have a change of schedule, somebody sick.

I mean, we've had it before, several times where one of us loses our voice.

a long time, Michelle.

It's true. Yeah. We've had everything under the sun. No, but yeah, we, we have to be flexible.

So, um, also when we've had this to internet connection issues, right?

Or people, people might have trouble with their phones, maybe they're traveling and they have to change things.

Yep. Traveling is a good one that we'll come back to in a minute, but I know I had renovations being done in my bathroom and that was, there was A lot of drilling, cutting tile.

I mean all sorts of things can happen when you run a podcast, or you're trying to collaborate with a coworker.

And it's, right, exactly, and it's interesting because I guess it depends on what your job is.

So for our job we have to have it quiet.

We have to be able to speak, right.

So it's just interesting, because for everybody else, so like other positions it might be okay, you're more dealing with data entry.

So everybody has a different piece of their work that they couldn't do without if they changed it, right?

Yeah, exactly. But this is really all about how you react to those changes, how you communicate that something is changing, and then of course how you react and absorb that news is gonna determine your success as a professional at the office, right?

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Verizon Business. But Michelle… you did mention travel.

So speaking of travel, I want to talk about that a little bit.

Okay. Did you know that I'm taking a trip to London soon for a podcasting conference?

Oh, yeah. You mentioned that.

Lindsey, remember I studied abroad in London.

If you need any recommendations.

I love London. I was there a couple of years ago.

Oh, amazing. Yeah. I mean, are you going to have some time to do some sightseeing while you're out there?

I mean… I hope so. I mean, I'm actually planning on going to Belgium after the conference because I hear they have great chocolate there's a lot of history to learn and probably so much more I don't even know about yet so I yeah I've actually never been to Belgium I've always wanted to go you'll have to let me know how it is but I mean Lindsay so for you I mean this goes back to what we were talking about how do you make sure you can get internet and make calls on your phone while you travel yeah it's a good question so the savvy travelers that I know they use an e SIM card yeah Yeah, oh that's

so good. Yeah guys, we'd like to take a minute and let you know about our sponsors, Sally Yes, Sally is an eSIM card that provides an internet connection wherever you travel and it saves you money on roaming fees Who doesn't love to say money when they travel good question who doesn't love that and it saves you time as well I know that time is another key value for our listeners here, you know, honestly Michelle I remember waiting in line at the airport in Tokyo back in 2018 to get my sim card That's one cool thing about Sehli.

There is no waiting in line Oh, well that is very helpful especially when you're at the airport and You're exhausted and the last thing you want to do is wait in more lines and you know for you and Europe So it sounds like you're gonna be traveling between Belgium and the UK.

Yeah, probably I was just looking it up on Google Maps I'm gonna euro star But I as I was looking at the travel route, it looks like we cross into France too.

So I don't want any dead zones on the train, right?

I might have to get work done.

So... Yeah, you don't wanna have to make a change of plans.

I mean, that's why Sally has these regional plans, right?

So if you're country hopping like you, you have a continuous connection and your card keeps working.

Exactly, super important.

So listeners, we know that you like to travel, right?

And stay connected.

connection and travel are two core values that we all share here on this podcast. So we've arranged a special deal just for you.

You can get an exclusive 15 % discount on salee data plans.

So Michelle, what is the co how can our listeners get that deal?

Where can they go? Okay, well, so download the Sailly app or go to www .sailly .com slash a -e -e, so I'm going to spell it out, S -A -I -L -Y .com slash a -e -e.

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Exactly. One more time.

Go to www .say .com Slash A -E -E or use the code A -E -E at checkout.

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Yes. Great. All right, so Lindsey, let's talk about, I mean, we want to teach some more phrases related to change.

So what are they? Let's what's the first one.

Yeah, so you could say the phrase last minute change, or adjustment.

And it's interesting that the word adjustment, right?

It kind of feels like we're getting like our backs adjusted.

Adjustment and those are on the car or something.

Yeah. It's another way of saying this, right?

So okay, let's make a last minute adjustment on this.

Can we take out all percentages?

We don't need to reveal all that here.

So it sounds like here.

Michelle, we're making to a presentation.

Right, so we've kind of put in all this data and then you say, well, we actually, we don't want to put all of that into the open right now.

So, let's make an adjustment.

Exactly. Yes, I love that, and that's important to be able to talk about too.

It's not always about timing of a meeting.

Sometimes it's about making these little tweaks or changes to what we're presenting or the data we're gonna show to someone.

Yeah, yeah, or you can also say change direction.

So, you could say, we're gonna change direction here just a little bit.

You'll want to take out your pencils.

So you're about to introduce something a little bit different.

And this is really important.

We've talked on the podcast before, especially this podcast about the importance of giving kind of sign posts and telling people what's going to happen before it actually happens.

That is incredibly important, right?

Right. Yeah, exactly.

So speaking of sign posts here, we are going to introduce another expression.

No, just joking. All right, what is the last one, Lindsey, a shift in plans.

Right. Very common. So there's been a shift in plans.

I'm traveling, so I'll be on the train during that time.

Oh, me too. I'm traveling to I'll be on the train, but I'm going to figure it out.

Yeah, exactly. So, Lindsey, I mean, what can we do to stay calm during these times where somebody says, oh, there's a change up, there's a change and you kind of feel jolted?

I think what I think was a key here.

The secret is expecting it.

I mean, what is that expression they say the only the on the own is change change yeah and if we could just embrace that because we've learned that over time right it's true in life it's a rule of life the same right he never stays the same so just kind of expecting it what do you think Michelle what are your tips here I think that that's a really good one because just when you get yourself into that mindset you're always kind of thinking like nothing is permanent right and so if you know that going into I find that preparing myself mentally for things like that is really good too.

I mean, even this is a silly example, but I remember, and I think I've talked about this on the show, but I remember during COVID, I remember all I would do was wait, like just be like counting down the days till the weekend so that I would have Dan home, so he'll, and I was just at home with my son.

He was a baby at that time and I would be counting down and I realized at some point I'm just counting down my life, right Dan?

It's just dramatic.

And I didn't like those.

I'm not enjoying it.

So I tried to get myself back and like, it's just going to happen again.

It's just going to happen again.

That is over, right?

I used to get the Sunday scaries and I actually don't get that anymore.

Part of it is COVID being over, but it's this feeling of the change is going to happen.

Try and enjoy it well, enjoy it for what it is.

Yeah, I love that. That sounds like a lot of growth there.

Right, just kind of, it's life experience that leads us to know what is the true nature of life is change is normal.

And so I love that.

That's good advice, very deep.

Thank you, thank you.

Let's do our role play.

Yeah, so here we are planning to meet, but my phone broke.

Geez, okay. Phone problems. Alright, oh man, Michelle, I'm sorry.

Last minute change, my phone broke, so I have to meet later.

Oh no, I'm sorry. I'll just let the team know there's been a shift in the plans.

Thanks, I'm gonna run over to the store now.

Okay, and change of plans, Fred was able to figure out our connection, so once you're all set with this, we'll actually meet with him to go over everything.

Oh, that's good news.

Yeah, it was tough to change direction because of everything going on.

This will help. Okay, yeah.

Sometimes technology can fail us, right?

That can happen sometimes too.

So we gotta be ready to pivot.

Right? Yes, exactly.

Exactly. So guys, let's go through this.

So you said, oh man, Michelle, I'm sorry.

Right, so you're apologizing for this change you're about to introduce.

And you say last minute change.

My phone broke, so I have to meet later.

Yeah, notice how I'm not saying I have a last minute change or there is a last minute change.

Yeah, yeah. Just last minute change.

Very normal, very typical, to say it that way.

Don't you think? Yeah.

Yeah. yes and then you said oh no I'm sorry I'll just let the team know there's been a shift in the plans just another way to say it yep and then I'm kind of moving on to something else and I said okay and change of plans and I introduced that sounds like a different person is gonna be working on something for us dealing with our connection mm -hmm exactly chain of plans and then I said oh that's good news yeah it was tough to change direction because of everything going on and I don't physically mean change directions.

It's not like I turnt around and walked uptown when I was walking downtown.

No, no. Maybe because of some inconsistencies with technology or the connection things were always changing so now you're gonna get that fixed.

Love it, so good. Michelle, what's another episode our listeners should check out when they finish up today?

Alright guys, check out episode 395.

That was don't be vulnerable to business English mistakes.

Excellent and where should we leave our listeners?

At the end, we'll remind our listeners of how to get this special deal.

But first, Michelle, where should we leave our listeners today?

All right, nothing ever stays the same.

Yes. And that goes for the business world as well.

Absolutely. There can be so many things that happen and we just have to expect that, get yourself into the mindset and then you'll find when it does come up, you'll be more prepared mentally and it'll probably stress you out less.

Yeah and it's a way to gain the respect of your colleagues when they see that you're not freaking out.

You're not rigid and that it has to happen this way at this time.

You know, you have some career experience.

You know that things change and it's all about how you respond when that happens, right?

That really matters.

Yeah, exactly. And Lindsey, guys we wanna remind you one more time that you can get an exclusive 15 % discount on saley data plans, right Lindsay?

Yeah. Just use code a E E at the checkout.

You can download the SAILEI app or you can go to www dot saili .com slash a E and Michelle, can you spell that out for us one more time?

Sure. It's www dot S a I l y .com slash a E for 15 % percent.

Yes. Excellent. All right.

This is been a fun episode today Michelle.

Thank you so much for hanging out with me on the mic as always All right.

Thank you and have a great time in London when you go.

I will it should be great I'll come back with stories.

I'm sure Take care talk soon.

All right. Bye Thank you for listening to business English a podcast just for you the high achieving global professional.

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[직장에서의 변화에 유연하게 대응하는 영어 표현법]-[BE 402: How to Respond to Change at Work in English]

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직장에서의 변화에 유연하게 대응하기: 영어로 소통하는 법

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