Top 5 Communication Skills You Need

Top 5 Communication Skills You Need

by | Sep 12, 2024 | Better communicator

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

Do zobaczenia na większym ekranie 🙂

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Top 5 Communication Skills You Need
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THE BLUE TREE

Better
Communicator

CEF B1

CEFR B2

Upper
Intermediate

Practise speaking by describing this image
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warm up

Answer the questions below. Listen to model answers and read the transcript to get some more practice in conversational English.

What skills are needed to do your job well?
TRANSCRIPT

To do my job well in the marketing team, I need to be creative and have strong people skills. It’s really important to be able to think of fresh ideas for campaigns and to communicate well with my colleagues and clients. I also need to stay organized and be able to focus, which is something I’m always working on.

Do you believe that people who graduate from universities are generally well prepared to face work challenges?
TRANSCRIPT

I think it depends. Universities give you a solid foundation, but the real preparation comes from hands-on experience. A lot of challenges at work, especially in HR, involve understanding people and handling unexpected situations. That’s something you really learn on the job, not just in a classroom.

If you could learn one thing that will help you do your job better, what would it be?
TRANSCRIPT

If I could learn one thing to help me in my job as an underwriter, it would be mastering more advanced data analysis tools. My work already involves a lot of numbers, but getting even better at analyzing large sets of data quickly would make my job more efficient and accurate.

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key language

Study the words below. Make sure you understand them well.

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part one

VIDEO

Watch the first part of the video.

Comprehension questions

Answer the questions below. Use the information from the video.

  • ⌚ 0:29 What is the number one skill?
  • ⌚ 0:40 What effect does good presenting skills have on people who listen to you?
  • ⌚0:45 What does it mean that public speaking is like an escalator?
  • ⌚0:54 Is public speaking a soft or hard skill?
  • ⌚ 1:32 What is informative speaking about?
  • ⌚ 2:03 What does persuasive speaking entail?
  • ⌚ 2:19 When does impromptu speaking happen?
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part two

VIDEO

Watch the second part of the video.

Comprehension questions

Answer the questions below. Use the information from the video.

  • ⌚ 3:08 What are verbal communications skills about?
  • ⌚ 3:28 What’s the first characteristic of good verbal skills?
  • ⌚ 3:55 What are signposts and why should we use them when we speak?
  • ⌚ 4:17 What does using plain language mean?
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part three

VIDEO

Watch the third part of the video.

Comprehension questions

Answer the questions below. Use the information from the video.

  • ⌚ 4:55 What do people with good interpersonal skills know how to do?
  • ⌚ 5:02 What does empathizing mean in this context?
  • ⌚ 5:09 What can people with with good interpersonal skills handle well?
  • ⌚ 5:36 How do researchers divide communication skills?
  • ⌚ 5:42 What does it mean to be a well-rounded communicator?
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part four

VIDEO

Watch the fourth part of the video.

Comprehension questions

Answer the questions below. Use the information from the video.

  • ⌚ 5:50 What does working well in groups and teams entail?
  • ⌚ 6:12 How important is collaborative spirit?
  • ⌚ 6:29 How do good communicators see other people in their team or group?
  • ⌚ 6:34 What is one way to stand out in a group?
  • ⌚ 7:03 What is the common issue with problem solving discussions?
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part five

VIDEO

Watch the fifth part of the video.

Comprehension questions

Answer the questions below. Use the information from the video.

  • ⌚ 7:27 What is the last top skill?
  • ⌚ 7:40 How much do good leaders listen in comparison to an average employee?
  • ⌚ 8:18 What do good listeners do?
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POLL

Cast your vote in the poll below.

Which of the the three types of public speaking would you like to be better at?
Which of the characteristics of good verbal communication skills do you find the most appealing?
Which of the interpersonal communication skills do you find the most difficult to implement?
Which of the elements related to working well in groups and teams are you good at already?
Which of the elements of the listening skill would you like to get better at? (you can select more than one)
1 vote

CAST YOUR VOTE
×
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DISCUSSION

ALITA AND PETE DISCUSS THESE SKILLS

Read (role-play) this dialogue between Alita and Pete. They are talking about their experience with these top skills for work.

Alita: You know, Pete, I’ve been thinking a lot about those communication skills we’ve been discussing. Public speaking, verbal communication, working well in teams… they all seem so important in our jobs.

Pete: Yeah, definitely. I’ve had a lot of practice with interpersonal communication in HR, but public speaking is still something I need to improve. What about you?

Alita: I’m the same with public speaking. I get nervous every time I have to present something in front of a large group. But I think I’m pretty good at verbal communication—being concise and clear. It helps in marketing when you need to get the message across quickly.

Pete: That’s a good point. Being concise is something I’m working on. Sometimes I can get a bit long-winded when explaining policies to staff. Kat’s really mastered that, though. She’s so precise in the way she communicates.

Alita: Oh yeah, Kat’s amazing at that! She’s always so to the point. I could learn a lot from her. I think I’m also pretty strong at working in teams, though. I love collaborating with people, and I feel like I contribute well when we’re brainstorming ideas.

Pete: You’re definitely great at teamwork. It’s clear you’ve got that collaborative spirit. And Sven’s got listening skills down. He’s always so calm and collected in meetings, really paying attention to everyone’s input.

Alita: Sven’s definitely a great listener. I should probably follow his example. I get a little distracted sometimes when I’m multitasking and could improve on that. Listening is a big part of good communication, isn’t it?

Pete: For sure. I think mastering these skills is crucial if we want to keep growing professionally. The more we can refine them, the better we’ll be at leading and making an impact.

Alita: Absolutely. It’s not just about doing the job; it’s about evolving in how we communicate and connect with others. We’ve got some work ahead of us, but I’m looking forward to it.

Pete: Same here. And we’ve got good examples around us—Kat and Sven show us that it’s possible to master these skills. We’ll get there.

Alita: Definitely. Let’s keep learning and improving!

OVER TO YOU

Discuss these questions. Refer to the lesson and your own experience. 

  • Which communication skill do you think is the most challenging to develop, and why?
  • How have strong communication skills helped you in your workplace? Can you share a specific example?
  • In what ways can improving listening skills enhance teamwork and collaboration?
  • What role does non-verbal communication play in the workplace, and how can we become more aware of it?
  • How do you think mastering public speaking can influence your professional growth, even if it’s not a big part of your current role?
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COMMENTS

Share your views and experience here.

Use Strategic Thinking to Create the Life You Want

Use Strategic Thinking to Create the Life You Want

by | Jan 6, 2024 | Man and Society

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

back to HOME > General Interest > Man and Society >

Use Strategic Thinking to Create the Life You Want
Learn more words

THE BLUE TREE

Man & Society

CEF B1

CEFR B2

Upper
Intermediate

Practise speaking by describing this image
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warm up

Answer these questions. Listen to Sarah, a woman from the USA, answer these questions. Report back what you have heard.

Do you think it is important to have and follow a strategy when you want to be successful in business?
TRANSCRIPT

Absolutely, I believe having and following a strategy is crucial for success in business. In my experience, transitioning from science to finance, I’ve seen how a well-thought-out strategy can make a huge difference. Just like in science, where experiments need careful planning, in business, you need a clear plan to navigate through challenges and capitalize on opportunities. For me, blending my scientific background with business strategies has been really beneficial. It helps me approach problems analytically and make decisions based on data. So, yes, a good strategy is not just important, it’s essential for success in any business field.

How do you define a good life?
TRANSCRIPT

For me, a good life is all about balance and fulfillment. It’s about finding that sweet spot where my professional achievements and personal happiness coexist harmoniously. As someone who’s passionate about both science and business, I believe in setting goals in these areas and working towards them. But a good life isn’t just about work. It’s also about nurturing relationships, enjoying hobbies, and taking care of my health. It’s important to have time for family and friends and to do things that rejuvenate the soul, like reading a good book or spending time in nature. Ultimately, a good life is one where you feel content, challenged, and connected, both to your own goals and the people around you.

Can you think of something that is significant for you, but you do not spend enough time on it? What is it?
TRANSCRIPT

Yes, definitely. For me, that would be scientific research. Even though I’ve transitioned into finance, my love for science never faded. I miss being deeply involved in scientific studies and experiments. It’s something that always sparked joy and curiosity in me. But with a demanding career in finance, finding time for in-depth scientific research can be challenging. I try to stay updated and occasionally dabble in small projects, but I definitely wish I could dedicate more time to it. It’s a passion of mine that I hope to revisit more seriously in the future.

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part one

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key language

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watch the video

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COMPREHENSION

  • ⌚ 0:09 What is the Strategize your Life course about?
  • ⌚ 0:17 How many steps does the program have?
  • ⌚ 0:26 How experienced is the speaker in the area of strategy?
  • ⌚ 0:37 How did his background in science help him?
  • ⌚0:44 What example illustrates this principle of applying an idea from one field to a different field?
  • ⌚ 0:50 What question did he ask himself?
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part two

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key language

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watch the video

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COMPREHENSION

  • ⌚ 1:02 What is a corporate strategy?
  • ⌚ 1:27 What is the definition of a life strategy?
  • ⌚ 2:35 What are the seven steps in business strategy?
  • ⌚ 2:35 How do they translate into life strategy questions?
  • ⌚ 2:47 How do many people define a great life?
  • ⌚ 3:00 Why doesn’t earning more money increase our happiness?
  • ⌚ 3:19 What did Prof. Martin Seligman created?
  • ⌚ 4:09 What do the letters in PERMAV stand for?
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part three

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key language

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watch the video

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COMPREHENSION

  • ⌚ 4:48 What are strategic life units? What can we invest in them?
  • ⌚ 5:00 Who is your first strategic life unit (SLU)?
  • ⌚ 5:29 What are the other 16 Strategic Life Units?
  • ⌚ 5:59 What are the three pieces of information we need to collect about SLU?
  • ⌚ 6:19 What is a Strategic Life Portfolio?
  • ⌚ 6:32 What does the 2×2 matrix show?
  • ⌚ 7:14 What did 95% of participants of their training have?
  • ⌚ 7:26 What do many people put in the lower right square?
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part four

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key language

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watch the video

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COMPREHENSION

  • ⌚ 7:54 What can we change in our portfolio?
  • ⌚ 8:11 What do we find in the upper left corner?
  • ⌚ 8:30 What advice does Michael give if we have an issue with relationships and friends?
  • ⌚ 8:47 What do people who had an issue with social media did in the training?
  • ⌚ 9:12 What is the right Portfolio?
  • ⌚ 9:19 How will it look on the matrix?
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part five

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key language

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watch the video

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COMPREHENSION

  • ⌚ 9:33 Can we really come up with a strategy for our lives?
  • ⌚ 9:41 What do we need to know, even in uncertain times?
  • ⌚ 9:49 What did Seneca say about not knowing where we are sailing?
  • ⌚ 9:53 What two things do we need to be open to?
  • ⌚ 10:12 What does the second Seneca’s quote mean as regards life strategy?
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POLL

Cast your vote in the poll. 

Which of the seven step for strategizing our lives do you find the most interesting?
1 vote

CAST YOUR VOTE
×
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DISCUSSION

How do you define a great life?

Read a fragment from an article on “How to Strategize Your Life” from Harvard Business Review.

When the calendar page flips from one year to the next, most of us take some time to reflect on what we’d like to do differently in the 12 months ahead. Many people make New Year’s resolutions. Fewer stick to them.

Companies also use the close of their fiscal year to review performance and refine strategy, but they tend to do it in a much more methodical way. If they’re following best practices, they have a purpose or mission statement, a five – or 10 – year vision to guide them, tools to assess their portfolio of businesses and activities, and a suite of key performance indicators to track progress.

A few years ago, BCG consultants Rainer Strack, Susanne Dyrchs, and Allison Bailey began to wonder if this process could be adapted to help individuals think more clearly about their own personal and professional lives. They created a program called Strategize Your Life, which they’ve now tested with more than 500 people, from recent college graduates to retirees, first-time managers to CEOs.

(…)

Let’s get right to step one: How do you define a great life?

Any corporate strategy process starts with defining metrics for success. For instance, the organization might choose to focus on driving sales growth, maximizing profit, or having a positive impact on society.

What are the right metrics for you? Some might aim for money, fame, and power, but studies have shown that meaningful relationships are more important drivers of long-term happiness. Of course, each of us will have a different view on what combination of things are really important in life.

Strack, Dyrchs, and Bailey recommend using the PERMA model, introduced by Martin Seligman and later developed into PERMA-V, which stands for:

  • Positive emotions, or frequent feelings of pleasure and contentment
  • Engagement, or being in the flow of something and losing track of time
  • Relationships, or mutual feelings of caring, support, and love
  • Meaning, or contributing to making the world a better place
  • Achievement, or striving for success or mastery
  • Vitality, or being healthy and energetic

Rate how critical each of the above elements is to you on a scale from 0 (not important) to 10 (very important). You can also add your own categories, such as autonomy or spirituality. This quick assessment will give you a rough idea of how you define a great life.

PERMA-V SURVEY

Use the tool below to assess your PERMA-V factors.

(P) - Positive emotions, or frequent feelings of pleasure and contentment
not important
very important
(E) - Engagement, or being in the flow of something and losing track of time
not important
very important
(R) - Relationships, or mutual feelings of caring, support, and love
not important
very important
(M) - Meaning, or contributing to making the world a better place
not important
very important
(A) - Achievement, or striving for success or mastery
not important
very important
(V) - Vitality, or being healthy and energetic
not important
very important

What’s important to you?

Read a dialogue between Alita and Pete. They are discussing their scores in the PERMA-V survey.

Alita and Pete

Alita: Hey Pete, remember that “Strategize Your Life” session we had last week? I’ve been thinking a lot about those PERMA-V factors we talked about.

Pete: Oh, yeah, the survey was pretty eye-opening. I never really thought about breaking down my well-being into those specific areas. Positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, accomplishment, and vitality, right?

Alita: Exactly! I scored pretty high on positive emotions and relationships but realized I’m lacking in the accomplishment department. How about you?

Pete: For me, it’s a bit of a mix. I feel quite engaged in what I do, especially at work, and I’ve got a good sense of vitality, probably thanks to my morning jogs. But, I’m with you on the accomplishment part. It’s like I’m doing things, but not necessarily the things that feel impactful, you know?

Alita: Totally get that. It’s like, we’re busy but are we moving in the direction we really want? I’m thinking of setting some clear goals for myself, kind of like what we do here at work with our performance indicators.

Pete: That’s a good idea. I should probably reflect more on what ‘meaning’ really means to me. Maybe start some projects that align more with my personal values.

Alita: Yeah, and I think keeping up with the vitality aspect is important too. You’re doing great with your jogging. I should probably pick up something like that. Maybe yoga or something.

Pete: Definitely. It’s all about balance, isn’t it? Making sure we’re not just focusing on one area. I think the survey helped highlight that. So, are you going to make any big changes?

Alita: I’m planning to, starting with some small steps. Maybe take up a new hobby and set some achievable career goals for the year. How about you?

Pete: Same here. I’m going to spend some time figuring out what really gives my life meaning and try to incorporate more of that. Maybe volunteer work or mentoring.

Alita: Sounds great, Pete. It’s good we’re taking these steps, isn’t it?

Pete: Absolutely. It’s like we’re fine-tuning our lives. Let’s catch up again soon to see how we’re both doing with these changes.

OVER TO YOU

Now, discuss these questions.

  • What is your opinion on the Strategize Your Life program? Can it really work?
  • How deliberate are you about your own life goals and plans?
  • Do you agree that life is a chain of lucky events?
  • What do you think of the PERMA-V factors? Are they complete?
  • Which of the PERMA-V factors would you like to improve and why?
  • Which of the factors are you the most satisfied today?
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lesson glossary

Revise the vocabulary from this class using this glossary.

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COMMENTS

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