Pinkcast. The Drucker Memo

Pinkcast. The Drucker Memo

Pinkcast. The Drucker Memo
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THE BLUE TREE

Personal
Productivity

CEF B1

CEFR B2

Upper
Intermediate

Practise speaking by describing this image

warm up

Answer the questions below.

Do you think people generally learn from history?
TRANSCRIPT

I think people can learn from history, but sometimes we get stuck in the same patterns and repeat mistakes. It depends on whether we’re open to reflecting on the past and actually applying those lessons. Personally, I try to take a step back and think about what went right or wrong before moving forward, but it’s easier said than done!

How much can we learn by analyzing our own past choices?
TRANSCRIPT

I believe we can learn a lot by analyzing our own past choices. I’ve found that reflecting on my experiences, both good and bad, helps me make better decisions in the future. It’s like that idea of self-awareness—once you recognize where you’ve gone off track, you can avoid making the same mistake again. I’ve also learned that it’s important not to be too hard on myself when things don’t go as planned.

TRANSCRIPT

What helps me make better decisions is having a clear system in place and staying grounded in my goals. I find it useful to break down big decisions into smaller parts, and I always try to think through both the pros and cons. I also believe in being flexible, because sometimes things don’t go as expected, and you have to adjust. Taking care of my health and keeping my mind clear also plays a big role in making good decisions.

key language

Go through the flashcards below. Memorize as many words and their definitions are you can.

reading

PINKCAST 4.26

Here’s Peter Drucker’s simple method for improving your performance.

In the last 20 years of writing about business, I’ve often dealt with a major annoyance: I’ll come up with what I’m convinced is a mind-shattering, era-defining idea — only to discover that Peter Drucker had the idea a few decades ago.

Drucker was consistently astute about the present and prescient about the future. A true legend.

Among other breakthroughs, he pioneered the concept of “managing oneself” — which was as novel in the 1980’s as it is commonplace in the 2020’s. And perhaps my favorite Drucker self-management technique is “feedback analysis,” which involves writing down your expectations today to improve your performance tomorrow.

It’s all explained in the latest Pinkcast. You can watch the 174-second video by clicking the link below. After you’ve seen the video, come back here and answer the questions below. 

zaniedbywać

znajdować złoty środek

dążyć do, pretendować, mieć aspiracje

zabiegać o, ubiegać się (o coś)

odpuścić, porzucić

ostatecznie, w końcu

zadania, przydział (pracy)

wykupić (czas na coś)

zakres (obowiązków)

watch the video

COMPREHENSION



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POLL

Cast your vote in the poll.

How practical do you find the Drucker Memo technique?

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COMMENTS

What do you think of the Drucker Memo technique? How effective can it be in improving our performance or decisions? What would you write about if were to try it out?

Share your views and experience here.

Don’t chase happiness. Become antifragile.

Don’t chase happiness. Become antifragile.

Sorry, but lessons on The Blue Tree work only on a computer or a tablet.

Bardzo mi przykro, ale lekcje na platformie The Blue Tree działają jedynie na komputerze lub tablecie.

Do zobaczenia na większym ekranie 🙂

Zespół The Blue Tree

Don’t chase happiness. Become antifragile.
Learn more words

THE BLUE TREE

Man & Society

CEF B1

CEFR B2

Upper
Intermediate

Practise speaking by describing this image

warm up

Answer the questions below. Then listen to the model answers and think about how you could improve yours.

How important is the pursuit of happiness for you?
TRANSCRIPT

The pursuit of happiness is really important to me, but I’ve learned that it’s not always about being happy all the time. I think it’s about finding balance and meaning in life, even when things are tough. For me, it’s about making choices that lead to long-term satisfaction, not just quick moments of joy. Happiness is something I actively work on, but I know it’s not a constant state.

What can tough times teach us? Is there any advantage in going through hardships?
TRANSCRIPT

Tough times can be some of the best teachers. Going through hardships makes you stronger, more understanding, and better equipped to handle future challenges. It’s like when you exercise and your muscles get stronger after being pushed to their limits. In the same way, when life pushes you, you grow, learn, and develop resilience. There’s definitely an advantage in going through tough times because they show you what you’re capable of.

How can we become more resilient to painful emotions and events?
TRANSCRIPT

To become more resilient to painful emotions and events, I think it’s important to first acknowledge and accept those feelings, rather than trying to avoid them. Learning to manage emotions through mindfulness, talking with others, or even just giving yourself time can make a big difference. Building strong relationships and focusing on personal growth also helps. It’s about recognizing that challenges are part of life and using them to grow rather than break.

part one

KEY LANGUAGE

Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.

VIDEO

Watch the first part of the video.

COMPREHENSION

Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.

  • ⌚ 0:09 What two kinds of people do not experience emotions?
  • ⌚ 0:19 What false expectation do many people have in relation to happiness?
  • ⌚ 0:26 What do we need to learn to do with painful emotions?
  • ⌚ 1:12 What is Resilience 1.0 system about?
  • ⌚ 1:23 How is Resilience 2.0 different from 1.0?

part two

KEY LANGUAGE

Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.

VIDEO

Watch the second part of the video.

COMPREHENSION

Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.

  • ⌚ 1:42 What example from our bodies illustrate the antifragile system?
  • ⌚ 2:02 What is PTG and how is it different from PTSD?
  • ⌚ 2:15 What is the goal of happiness studies?
  • ⌚ 3:00 What paradox exists in the context of pursuing happiness?
  • ⌚ 3:09 How can we resolve this paradox?
  • ⌚ 3:50 How is it similar to looking at the sun?

part three

KEY LANGUAGE

Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.

VIDEO

Watch the third part of the video.

COMPREHENSION

Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.

  • ⌚ 4:17 What does SPIRE stand for?
  • ⌚ 4:32 What is spirituality about?
  • ⌚ 4:42 What is one the most important component of the physical element of the rainbow?
  • ⌚ 4:58 What is the main problem related to stress?
  • ⌚ 5:27 How can we draw happiness from intellectual side of life?

part four

KEY LANGUAGE

Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.

VIDEO

Watch the fourth part of the video.

COMPREHENSION

Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.

  • ⌚ 5:41 What is the number one predictor of well-being?
  • ⌚ 5:54 How important is the quality of our relationships?
  • ⌚ 6:01 What two kinds of emotions do we need to learn to embrace?
  • ⌚ 6:13 What did Cicero think about gratitude?
  • ⌚ 6:19 What is the benefit of showing more appreciation?
  • ⌚ 6:26 In what sense is happiness more than just pleasure?
w

DISCUSSION

  • What do you think of the idea of Antifragility / Resilience 2.0?
  • Would you add any more elements to the SPIRE Model? What would they be?
  • Why do you think people who pursue happiness directly are often unhappy?
  • Which element of the SPIRE Model brings most happiness to you?
  • Tal Ben-Shahar says that ‘happiness resides on a continuum’, that it is a journey. Do you agree with it?
  • At the end he says: “I do not think that things necessarily happen for the best. However, we can learn to make the best of things that happen”. What does it mean for you? 

POLL

Which element of the SPIRE plays the most important role in your happiness?

×

lesson glossary

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COMMENTS

What do you think of the idea of antifragility? Does it make sense to you? What would your rainbow colours refer to? 

Share your views and experience here.

How to Get Along with Difficult Colleagues

How to Get Along with Difficult Colleagues

Sorry, but lessons on The Blue Tree work only on a computer or a tablet.

Bardzo mi przykro, ale lekcje na platformie The Blue Tree działają jedynie na komputerze lub tablecie.

Do zobaczenia na większym ekranie 🙂

Zespół The Blue Tree

Learn more words

THE BLUE TREE

Better
Communicator

CEF B1

CEFR B2

Upper
Intermediate

Practise speaking by describing this image

warm up

Answer the questions below. Then listen to the sample answers and report on what you’ve heard.

TRANSCRIPT

There’s one colleague I really enjoy working with—she’s always supportive and willing to lend a hand when things get busy. As for disliking someone, I wouldn’t say I outright dislike anyone, but there are a couple of people who tend to focus too much on negativity. It can be draining when all the conversations revolve around complaints instead of solutions.

TRANSCRIPT

A good colleague, in my opinion, should be reliable and open to collaboration. I appreciate when someone is willing to share ideas and help out when needed but also respects boundaries. Honesty is also key. It’s important to feel like you can trust the people you’re working with. Lastly, someone with a good sense of humor can really lighten the atmosphere when things get stressful.

What annoys you the most about the behaviour of your workmates?
TRANSCRIPT

The thing that annoys me the most is when workmates don’t communicate properly. For example, if there’s an issue or something isn’t going as planned, but they don’t bring it up until the last minute. It just makes everything more stressful than it needs to be. I also find it frustrating when people aren’t accountable for their mistakes—it’s easier to work together if we can own up to things and move forward.

LISTENING

Listen to the article first. What is the main idea behind this management tip?

reading

How to Get Along with Difficult Colleagues

It’s easy to 1. get caught up in interpersonal conflict at work. But these negative dynamics can lead to mistakes, reduced creativity, and worse decision-making. Here are four ways to work more effectively with difficult colleagues.

Understand that your perspective is limited. It’s not realistic to expect everyone to agree with you all the time. When differences arise, ask yourself questions like: What if I’m wrong? How would I change my behavior? What 2. assumptions have I made?

View the conflict as a problem to be solved together. Understand what 3. outcome you’re aiming for. Do you want to get a project over the finish line? Build a healthy working relationship that will last into the future? Feel less angry or frustrated after your interactions? Decide on your goals before interacting with your colleague, and keep your eyes on the prize.

Avoid 4. venting and 5. gossip. Choose whom you talk to (and what you share) carefully. Look for people who are constructive, have your best interests at heart, will challenge your perspective when they disagree, and can be 6. discreet.

Experiment to find what works. Start by coming up with two or three methods you want to test out. For example, if you want to improve communications with a 7. grumpy colleague, decide that for two weeks you’re going to ignore their tone and focus on the 8. substance of their messages. Often small actions can have a big impact.

This tip is adapted from How to Navigate Conflict with a Coworker,” by Amy Gallo

dać się złapać, wrobić

założenia

rezultat, wynik

dawać upust (emocjom)

plotki, pogłoski

dyskretny, rozważny

gderliwy, marudzący, zrzędliwy

merytoryczna wartość

COMPREHENSION

Answer the questions below. Try to throw some of the newly learned words into your answers.

  • How can arguments at work affect our performance?
  • How does it help to understand that our perspective is limited?
  • What questions can we ask ourselves at this point?
  • How can we view the conflict as a problem to be solved together?
  • What should we remember about when we decide to approach a difficult colleague?
  • Who can we talk to about this issue? Why?
  • What’s the forth tip about? Can you think of any other ‘experiments’?

POLL

Cast your vote in the poll.

Which piece of advice from this lesson sounds the most practical for you?

×

COMMENTS

How would you deal with a difficult colleague at work? Do you have any other tips you’d like to share with us?