THE POLITE ART OF STARTING A CONVERSATION | What is small talk and why is it so important in business?

In this episode, we discuss what exactly is meant by small talk, when you should use small talk in business and which topics make for a great conversation. We discuss why this important social skill is vital for every English learner to master. so that you can become an integral part of a team, instead of being the outsider.

Book a lesson with Paul here: https://teach.italki.com/teacher/1657616 
Book a lesson with Rachel here: https://www.italki.com/teacher/1394345

BizPod - The Business English Podcast

BizPod Episode 3 - Making Small Talk

TO BE, OR NOT TO BE POLITE. THAT IS THE ETIQUETTE QUESTION

ETIQUETTE IS A SET OF COMMONLY KNOWN RULES OF PERSONAL BEHAVIOUR WITHIN A GROUP OF PEOPLE OR A SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.

At work, etiquette is a code that governs the expectations of how people should and should not behave at work, although there isn’t a universal agreement on what exactly is acceptable or not. It is the responsibility of the company and managers to develop a code and to set expectations in the workplace.

Most of us also have a set of unwritten rules that govern our family lives that are known to all members of the group, so the concept of etiquette is not new to us. We are familiar with how our behaviour affects and influences others, and so it is important to behave correctly, or face the consequences.

At work and in business, there are a set of rules or conventions that differ from one country to another, however, politeness and showing courtesy to others is universal. In some cultures, courtesy and showing respect is paramount to your success in business, at work and in job interviews.

Other cultures value directness, which may be taken as a rude gesture by someone from a different background.

BizPod Episode 7 - The Etiquette of Business

EVERYONE'S DOING THEM!
If you search the internet you will discover that workshops are a teaching opportunity that isn't focused on marketing, whereas webinars are built to teach and sell at the same time. It's a lot more about training and learning than it is about selling, but there will always be a pitch at the end of a webinar.

Then there are seminars...
An in-person seminar is more or less dependent on attendees' ability to physically attend the event, so there haven't been many of them during the Covid-19 pandemic, which has been problematic for some businesses but it has gone some way towards reducing carbon footprints.

Wikipedia has defined these 2 event types individually:

A seminar is ‘a meeting held for the exchange of useful information by members of a common business community.’

A webinar is 'an interactive seminar conducted via the World Wide Web. Usually a live presentation, lecture, or workshop that happens in real-time, as users participate through chatting, video-chatting, file-sharing, or asking questions with a microphone.’

Time for a masterclass!
Workshops progress from theory to practice, with a focus on grasping key tools or skills. Masterclasses are specialized classes in which students attain their learning objectives via in-depth practice and thorough guidance.

Listen as we discuss the hype surrounding online learning today!

BizPod Episode 11 - Webinars & Workshops

BREAKING NEWS! - WHY IT'S IMPORTANT!

The news is something that anyone who is studying Business English should really pay attention to. 

Watch it, read it, or listen to it. It doesn't matter how you digest the news, and, in truth, you would do best to mix all three methods to improve all your skills, but what it is really great for are 2 key things - improving your vocabulary for talking about things that are current and relevant, and providing you will a great resource for things to talk about that really affect us all, from ways of doing business today right down to everyone's day to day lives.

MAKE IT REGULAR!

There are many different ways to 'consume' the news:

Newspapers (daily) / magazines (monthly) journals (possibly every quarter or even annually)

Most are also available online these days. Plus... You can watch Sky News for FREE on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE

BizPod Episode 9 - What's in the news?

There are many reasons why you should speak about money in the workplace such as salary negotiations, sales and purchasing, accounting, budgeting and resources... the list goes on.

However, whatever the reason there are always some drawbacks to discussing money:

You are talking about your money. The person you are engaging with will be focused on their money. You might need to check the basic assumptions to check that you and your opponent are talking about the same thing as often this is not the case. You need to express different perspectives and points of view on values, inputs and outputs, and ownership, etc., which can be difficult, and sometimes delicate, to do.

SHIFT THE FOCUS FROM PRICE TO VALUE

Talk in a way that places focus on the benefits you can offer your counterpart and not what claims you want to make for yourself personally. What savings can you give, what profits can you enhance? This is also particularly relevant when you are in an interview, as you can show what an economical advantage it would be for you to be hired rather than the next person, as businesses are always interested in those that can help boost business!

BizPod Episode 10 - Money, Money, Money!

USE FEEDBACK TO BOOST CONFIDENCE & ABILITY IN THE WORKPLACE!

Giving and receiving feedback is an everyday skill that has become even more important in today’s business world when more and more people are working from home or in remote locations.

The idea that an annual performance review is the only time when feedback is needed is as outdated as Microsoft Windows 95.

So why do both employees and managers the world over dread the annual ritual of a performance review?

The answer is easy. Companies have institutionalised the giving and receiving of feedback and created a strong negative emotional response to the whole idea of having one's performance analysed. No wonder we all anticipate this moment with fear and doom.

However, when done in the right way, with the right intentions, feedback can lead to even greater success and performance. So, let BizPod share with you some tips on how and when to give feedback effectively and how to receive it constructively.