46 - Acting up
Language to use when you're in charge
Last time at Tip Top Trading we heard Anna give the perfect elevator pitch for her new plastic aubergine idea to her boss. But Paul went off to a biscuit-lover's convention and hasn't come back! What's happened, and more importantly who will step up to take charge while the boss is missing?
Intermediate · 170517 · 2017-05-17
Last time at Tip Top Trading we heard Anna give the perfect elevator pitch for her new plastic aubergine idea to her boss. But Paul went off to a cookie-lover's convention and hasn't come back! What's happened, and more importantly who will step up to take charge while the boss is missing? Language to use when you're in charge This episode focuses on language that you might use when you have to 'act up' as the boss.
1. If anyone has any issues about their work please come and speak to me.
US Revised: If anyone has any issues about their work please come and speak to me.
2. I would like to have a meeting to discuss our work.
US Revised: I would like to have a meeting to discuss our work.
3. If there is anything you want to ask, my door is always open.
US Revised: If there is anything you want to ask, my door is always open.
1. Narrator
Welcome back to English at Work. Last time we heard Anna pitching her new plastic aubergine idea to Paul, in a lift. He was on his way to a cookie-lovers' convention and didn't have much time. She gave the perfect elevator pitch but it's down to Paul to give her idea the go ahead - the problem is, he seems to have gone missing.
US Revised: Welcome back to English at Work. Last time we heard Anna pitching her new plastic aubergine idea to Paul, in a lift. He was on his way to a cookie-lovers' convention and didn't have much time. She gave the perfect elevator pitch but it's down to Paul to give her idea the go ahead - the problem is, he seems to have gone missing.
2. Tom
Denise, isn't Paul supposed to be here today?
US Revised: Denise, isn't Paul supposed to be here today?
3. Denise
Yes. He went to that cookie-lovers' convention yesterday but he said he'd be back today.
US Revised: Yes. He went to that cookie-lovers' convention yesterday but he said he'd be back today.
4. Tom
Maybe he's eloped with a pack of custard creams, eh?!
US Revised: Maybe he's eloped with a pack of custard creams, eh?!
5. Denise
Very funny Tom. I'll give him a call now ...oh, that might be him now. Hello, Tip Top Trading... oh hello Paul, everything OK? ...oh no! ...oh no!
US Revised: Very funny Tom. I'll give him a call now ...oh, that might be him now. Hello, Tip Top Trading... oh hello Paul, everything okay? ...oh no! ...oh no!
6. Tom
What Denise?
US Revised: What Denise?
7. Denise
He choked on a cookie at the convention and he's in hospital. (To Paul) Yes Paul, that was Tom... you want to speak to Anna? I'll just get her... get better soon Paul. (To Anna) Anna, Anna, it's Paul on the phone, he wants to speak to you - sounds important.
US Revised: He choked on a cookie at the convention and he's in hospital. (To Paul) Yes Paul, that was Tom... you want to speak to Anna? I'll just get her... get better soon Paul. (To Anna) Anna, Anna, it's Paul on the phone, he wants to speak to you - sounds important.
8. Anna
Me? Oh right, can you transfer the call please? Hello Paul, are you OK?
US Revised: Me? Oh right, can you transfer the call please? Hello Paul, are you okay?
9. Paul
Not really. Damn Garibaldi cookie got wedged in my throat, ended up banging my head on a table trying to get it out.
US Revised: Not really. Damn Garibaldi cookie got wedged in my throat, ended up banging my head on a table trying to get it out.
10. Anna
Oh dear, so you're not coming to work today?
US Revised: Oh dear, so you're not coming to work today?
11. Paul
I'm afraid not, I need to rest for a few days so I was wondering, in fact I'm asking you, could you act up?
US Revised: I'm afraid not, I need to rest for a few days so I was wondering, in fact I'm asking you, could you act up?
12. Anna
I've told you before Paul, I can't act... or even sing.
US Revised: I've told you before Paul, I can't act... or even sing.
13. Paul
No, no Anna. Act up, I mean do my job for a bit - be the boss - just for a day or two.
US Revised: No, no Anna. Act up, I mean do my job for a bit - be the boss - just for a day or two.
14. Anna
Me?! Be the boss?! Tom/Denise What?!
US Revised: Me?! Be the boss?! Tom/Denise What?!
15. Paul
It's quite easy really. Just check my diary and you'll see what needs doing. And if you have any problems just... erm... just ask Denise. Thanks Anna.
US Revised: It's quite easy really. Just check my diary and you'll see what needs doing. And if you have any problems just... um... just ask Denise. Thanks Anna.
16. Narrator
That's great Anna. You've got all the skills to do Paul's job - maybe even more! But you need to take charge and show who's boss!
US Revised: That's great Anna. You've got all the skills to do Paul's job - maybe even more! But you need to take charge and show who's boss!
17. Anna
Oh right. But what should I say?
US Revised: Oh right. But what should I say?
18. Narrator
Well, don't be too bossy, but you could say: "If anyone has any issues about their work please come and speak to me", or, "I would like to have a meeting to discuss our work", or, "If there's anything you want to ask, my door is always open". That makes you sound like a very approachable boss! Good luck.
US Revised: Well, don't be too bossy, but you could say: "If anyone has any issues about their work please come and speak to me", or, "I would like to have a meeting to discuss our work", or, "If there's anything you want to ask, my door is always open". That makes you sound like a very approachable boss! Good luck.
19. Anna
Thanks. Right everyone, as you know Paul has put me in charge for a while.
US Revised: Thanks. Right everyone, as you know Paul has put me in charge for a while.
20. Tom
I'm not being funny Anna, but why you? I mean, I've been here the longest.
US Revised: I'm not being funny Anna, but why you? I mean, I've been here the longest.
21. Anna
Tom, if you have any issues about your work, please come and speak to me.
US Revised: Tom, if you have any issues about your work, please come and speak to me.
22. Tom
Oh right... I will then.
US Revised: Oh right... I will then.
23. Denise
Erm... Anna... congratulations on your promotion. I just wondered, now you're in charge, could I do a little less admin and a bit more selling?
US Revised: Um... Anna... congratulations on your promotion. I just wondered, now you're in charge, could I do a little less admin and a bit more selling?
24. Anna
Let's see Denise. I'd like to have a meeting soon to discuss all our work, so we can talk about it then. OK?
US Revised: Let's see Denise. I'd like to have a meeting soon to discuss all our work, so we can talk about it then. Okay?
25. Denise
Oh yes, thanks Anna.
US Revised: Oh yes, thanks Anna.
26. Anna
Right then. It's business as usual and if there's anything you want to ask, my door is always open. Right, back to work... and Tom, could I have a word in my office now please?
US Revised: Right then. It's business as usual and if there's anything you want to ask, my door is always open. Right, back to work... and Tom, could I have a word in my office now please?
27. Narrator
Excellent work Anna. You're sounding like the boss already - just don't start eating cookies! Being in charge means being firm but fair and keeping your cool. Here's a reminder of some of the phrases Anna used: If anyone has any issues about their work please come and speak to me. I would like to have a meeting to discuss our work. If there is anything you want to ask, my door is always open.
US Revised: Excellent work Anna. You're sounding like the boss already - just don't start eating cookies! Being in charge means being firm but fair and keeping your cool. Here's a reminder of some of the phrases Anna used: If anyone has any issues about their work please come and speak to me. I would like to have a meeting to discuss our work. If there is anything you want to ask, my door is always open.
28. Anna
Take a seat Tom. Could you please close the door?
US Revised: Take a seat Tom. Could you please close the door?
29. Tom
I thought "your door was always open"?
US Revised: I thought "your door was always open"?
30. Anna
Not this time. I need to speak to you about this message in Paul's diary.
US Revised: Not this time. I need to speak to you about this message in Paul's diary.
31. Tom
Oh, right, I see. You need my help? What does it say?
US Revised: Oh, right, I see. You need my help? What does it say?
32. Anna
It's for two days' time and it says, Socrates, IPC, final.
US Revised: It's for two days' time and it says, Socrates, IPC, final.
33. Tom
Oh no, that doesn't sound good.
US Revised: Oh no, that doesn't sound good.
34. Narrator
Oh dear, what could that mean? Could there be trouble ahead? Join us again soon to find out. Bye.
US Revised: Oh dear, what could that mean? Could there be trouble ahead? Join us again soon to find out. Bye.
Question
What does Denise want to do a bit more of, now that Anna is in charge?
Answer
A bit more selling.