SPEAKING

1) In pairs discuss the questions below:

a) What relationships do people have at work/in business?

b) Are you good at making relationships? Why or why not?
c) Which colleagues and/or business partners do you have a great relationship with?
d) What personal qualities are necessary for building good relationships?
e) How do you identify potential business partners? How do you make contact with
them?
f) What are the best ways to build relationships between business partners?
g) What are the best ways to strengthen relationships between colleagues?
h) Is it always important to trust a business partner? Can you think of any exceptions?

VOCABULARY

• to foster (verb) – to encourage the development of something.

• to jeopardise (verb) – to put in danger.
• to see eye-to-eye (verb) – to be in agreement.
• to sever (verb) – to cut; to end.
• to sour (verb) – to go bad.
• ups and downs (noun) – a mixture of good times and bad times.

2) Using the vocabulary words above, complete the following sentences (remember to use
the correct form of the word, e.g. verb conjugation or plural noun)

1. For a new local business, it's vital that they________ relationships with the local
community.
2. After disagreements over the retail price of their product, the company decided ________
its partnership with the supermarket chain.
3. Despite their ________ over the years, the two companies generally enjoy a good working
relationship.
4. The two companies didn't ________ ; their valuations were miles apart.
5. When Paula was chosen over Mark as head of the Finance Department, the relationship
between the two ________ .
6. The scandal over the basketball player's social media comments has ________ the
relationship the team has with its main sponzor

3) Answer the questions using the vocabulary learnt

a) Which relationships are important for your company to foster?
b) What can jeopardise a business relationship?
c) When have you not seen eye-to-eye with someone at work?
d) When should you sever a business relationship?
e) When has one of your business relationships soured?
f) What ups and downs can business relationships have?
LISTENING

Listen to a trainer talking about the importance of relationship-building as a competency.

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises

4) Match the words with the definitions

To initiate A courtesy A competency To incorporate into

Small talk To fizzle out To cultivate To hamer out

________ an important skill needed for a job

________ to try to develop and improve
________ to include something in
________ to make something begin
________ a polite action
________ conversation about things that are not important
________ to gradually end
________ to come to an agreement through argument or discussion

5) Are the sentences true or false?

1. Relationship-building is the same as team-building.

True False
2. One practical idea is to say 'Good morning' to three strangers.
True False
3. It's a good idea to identify someone you want to build a relationship with.
True False
4. It's important to understand what's happening in the world so that you can discuss events
with colleagues.
True False
5. When there is conflict, you should focus on the person and not on the issue.
True False
6. Asking people open-ended questions can help improve communication.
True False

6) Choose the five tips the speaker mentions.

i) Practise simple courtesies
j) Get to know colleagues outside the office
k) Meet with colleagues outside of work from time to time
l) Avoid wasting time in small talk
m) Invite colleagues to your home
n) Listen to what colleagues say
o) Travel with colleagues on holiday
p) Ask open-ended questions