You're learning with Nine to Five English. Business English for the workplace.
Hi Tim here with another 9 to 5 English lesson. In today's lesson we're
going to learn how to talk about your ideas. You might be full of great ideas
about your company your products or how to connect with your customers but those
ideas aren't very useful if you can't tell other people about the.
You probably find yourself in lots of situations where you might talk about
your ideas. Think about a staff meeting or a business lunch everyone's talking
about what the company should do and you've got a good idea. So do you just
shout it out for everyone to hear? No rather than just shouting out your idea
it's best to introduce it first. I mean you should tell everyone that you have
an idea you want to share. And you might say exactly that like I've got something
to share or you could say here's what I've been thinking or how about this?
These are just some of the ways that you can introduce your idea. How about
practicing some of these expressions? We're going to present some examples
after you hear each example try repeating it yourself. Ready? Let's give it a go!
How about this for an idea?
Here's what I've been thinking about.
I've got something I'd like to share on this point.
One way of looking at this would be to...
So we've just practiced some different ways of introducing an idea. Once you've
done that then people are prepared they are now listening to hear what you have
to say but you need to be a bit careful how you state your idea if you're not
the boss you'll need to avoid saying we have to or it is necessary for us to do
something in many situations that's too strong if you're just making a
suggestion then you need something softer one way of suggesting an idea is
saying we could that's a polite way to present your idea as one possibility so
in a marketing meeting you might say we could create some new TV ads there are
other ways of making suggestions using how about and what if for example you
could say how about creating some ads or what if we created some ads another
really simple way to present your idea is with the words I think for example
you might say I think we should lower our costs that's just a bit softer than
saying we should lower our costs which is to direct many people don't like to
hear ideas suggested that directly now it's your turn to try using these
expressions you'll hear some examples after each example repeat what you hear
let's begin we could hold a big promotional event
you
I think there are a few ways we could cut costs
what if we bought the building instead of renting it
why don't we make a mobile version of the website
as you heard to suggest an idea sometimes we ask a question that shows
that we are open to what other people think after all you're not giving orders
rather you're trying to get people to think your idea is a good one so it's
important simply to ask them what they think about it you might ask an entire
group of people by saying how does everyone feel about that or anyone have
any thoughts on this you might also ask one person to respond with something
like what's your view on this Betty one more simple way to ask what people think
about an idea is with the question how does that sound and do you notice in
this and the other expressions I've given you that we say this or that to
refer to the idea using these words is better than saying my idea or asking do
you agree with me why is saying this better than saying my
idea well because you want people to focus on the idea not on whose idea it
is if you say me and my a lot people might feel you are thinking about
yourself too much let's practice using these expressions for asking what people
think about your ideas remember to repeat each example after you hear it
how does everyone feel about that
what's your view on this Dave
how does that sound
anyone have any on this
oK you've done some great practice with some useful expressions but how does
this sound in a conversation well let's listen to a short discussion between
Sandra and Kelly about a new office design looking at the office layout does
anyone have any ideas yes I've got something I'd like to share on this sure
go ahead well what if we put another meeting room
on the second floor can you see how that worked
Sandra says she's got something to share about the office layout then once
everyone's listening she makes a suggestion
using a what if question now it's your turn to practice will repeat the
dialogue but this time we're going to beep out Sandra's words you will have to
say those parts yourself remember first you'll say that you have something to
share and then you'll suggest putting another meeting room on the second floor
looking at the office layout does anyone have any ideas
you
sure go ahead
you
all right so we've learned some great ways to talk about your ideas and to ask
what other people think about your ideas in our next lesson we'll learn about how
to agree with other people's ideas until then so long and happy learning