Workplace Communication

Business Meetings
Small Talk
 Goal for Today’s Class

Learn to carry on an appropriate conversation in a workplace setting

 Today’s Agenda

Importance of communicating clearly in the workplace

Aspects of workplace communication – register
Identifying different registers
Workplace communication skills are very important. Incorrect
workplace communication can:

• cause problems at work.

• cause people to ignore you.

• send the wrong message.

Important aspects of workplace communication:

• Register

• Correct Grammar

• Appropriate vocabulary
o Idioms
o Phrasal verbs
Register is:

the way a speaker uses language differently in different circumstances.

• Choice of words
• Tone of voice
• Body language

It can be:

• Formal
• Informal
• Intimate
(Wife to Husband)

• Hi honey, how was your day?

• Great. We got a lot done. And yours?
• Fine, but stressful. Pass me that magazine, please.
• Here you go.
(Friend to Friend)

• Hi Charlie, can you give me a hand?

• Sure Peter. What's up?
• I can't get this to work.
• Are you sure the switch is on ?
(Employee to boss or manager - for workplace communications)

• Good Morning, Mr. Jones, may I ask you a question?

• Certainly, Robert, how can I help you?
(Boss or manager to employee - for workplace communications)

• Excuse me Peter, we seem to be having a problem with the Smith

account. We'd better get together to discuss the situation.
• That's a good idea Ms Amons, would 4 o'clock suit you?
See how well you understand correct register usage in these following workplace
situations. Choose the appropriate relationship for these phrases from the choices
listed below.
Colleagues / Boss to Employee / Employee to Boss / Inappropriate for workplace

• I'm afraid we're having some problems with your performance. I would like to see
you in my office this afternoon.
• What did you do last weekend?
• Hey, get over here now!
• Excuse me, do you think it would be possible for me to go home early this
afternoon? I have a doctor's appointment.
• Well, we went to this wonderful restaurant in Yelm. The food was excellent
and the prices were reasonable.
• Listen, I'm going home early, so I can't finish the project until tomorrow.
• Excuse me Bob, would you mind lending me $10 for lunch. I'm short today.
• Give me five bucks for lunch. I forgot to go to the bank.
• You are an extremely handsome young man, I'm sure you'll do well at our
company.
• Excuse me Ms Brown, could you help me with this report for a moment?
 Indirect Questions

• Used in a formal, polite situation (no “tu” or “vous” in English!)

• Introductory phrase + question word + positive sentence

• Do you know … ?
• I wonder / was wondering ….
• Can you tell me … ?
• Do you happen to know ...?
• I have no idea ...
• I'm not sure ...
• I'd like to know ...
• Question word: what, when, where, how, why, which

• Positive statement: She bought a new car.

• Combining these elements gives us the indirect question:

I wonder why she bought a new car.

• Examples
• Where is Jack? > I was wondering if you know where Jack is.
• When does Alice usually arrive? > Do you know when Alice usually
arrives?
• What have you done this week? > Can you tell me what you've done
this week?
• How much does it cost? > I'd like to know how much it costs.
• Which color suits me? > I'm not sure which color suits me.
• Why did he leave his job? > I wonder why he left his job.