Challenging someone's ideas
Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and do the exercises to check your understanding and practise the language.
Transcript
Ana: Hi! I'm Ana. Welcome to What to Say!
Do you know what to say when you want to challenge someone's ideas? Listen out for useful language for challenging someone's ideas. Then, we'll practise saying the new phrases – after this.
Vanya: Guys! I've got it! I've figured it out!
Emir: Figured what out?
Paul: That it's polite to knock on the door before coming in?
Vanya: This idea is just too good, Paul! It's too good!
Paul: Go on, then.
Vanya: So! Cats!
Emir: I'm a bit lost. What are you talking about?
Vanya: Videos. Cat videos! For our social media account. Hundreds of them. Everyone loves cats!
Paul: I hate cats.
Vanya: Everyone except you, Paul.
Paul: Have you considered the fact that we're a branding agency, not a pet shop?
Vanya: I take your point, Paul, but, come on, be imaginative! Cat videos are some of the most searched videos on the internet.
Emir: I see where you're coming from, Vanya, but I think I agree with Paul here. How is this relevant for a branding agency?
Vanya: Look. Social media, it's a numbers game. If we share dozens of cat videos each day, then we get more followers.
Emir: That's true. So how exactly do you see this working? I mean, who's going to find all these videos?
Vanya: Erm, OK, I'm very aware of the challenges here, but I'm convinced this is going to work.
Paul: I'm not so sure.
Emir: Well, I guess you have to look at it from both sides. Why don't we try it for a couple of weeks and see if there's any impact?
Vanya: Great! We are going to get so many more followers. I'm absolutely positive!
Paul: Good luck with that! I hope it doesn't turn out to be a cat-astrophe ... What? ... It's a good joke.
Ana: Hello again! Well, I thought that was a good joke! So, did you notice the useful phrases used for challenging someone's ideas? Listen to me and then repeat.
I'm a bit lost. What are you talking about?
Have you considered the fact that we're a branding agency, not a pet shop?
I take your point, but be imaginative.
I see where you're coming from.
I think I agree with Paul here.
How exactly do you see this working?
I'm very aware of the challenges here, but I'm convinced this will work.
You have to look at it from both sides.
Ana: Try and use some of these phrases the next time you want to challenge someone's ideas in English. Bye for now!
Good evening.
It depends on how we define “unusual ideas”. If your profession demands some creativity, unusual may be just another word for “good”. I worked in domains where this was true and in others were adhering to well-established rules was crucial. I have never taken too much risks, and – when I really dared to make new propositions –, assured myself first that a fallback was possible, or that the adoption of my idea was just another, new option of many.
I haven't tried yet, but I would like to. The only problem is that I couldn't find the exact words to say without offending someone.
In challenging situations, when I face a problem and nothing seems to work, I have to think outside the box to find an efficient solution. I believe that trying an unusual approach is better than doing nothing and hoping the problem will solve itself.
“ Food Fridays” is a great idea to improve the relation between coworkers and making something different is a way to have a detox moment at work, is very important to be sure that everyone commit to bringing healthy food.
I appreciate the many ways we can challenge someone.
I am less the people which is coming up with unusual ideas on work. My Colleagues are in average much older than me, therefore I was at the beginning very carefully in what I am saying and what not. Currently I feel more safier and more confident in expressing my thoughts and ideas, as well as act according my values. It becomes better with the time and I am feeling the developing sense of belonging inside the team. I am happy about that.
No not realy. In my last Station as worker I was only in Internships and used to due very common and standard work. Altough I remember that I come up with the Idea, that from time to time someone is responsible to bring tea in the office, because we used to drink a lot of tea.
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I'm agree with sharing food on Fridays, but I'm not pretty good at cooking. I'm the person who eat instead of the person who loves cooking. I'm sure that sharing food is an important moment, 'cause emprove the interpersonal relationships with colleagues.
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