Module 3: Working with Foreign Colleagues

Table of Contents

Reading Text & Presentation

SECTION 3.1
3.1 A foreign manager

 

Part 1
Demanding boss / Easy-going boss

Is your boss tough and demanding? Or perhaps the easy-going, less demanding kind?
In what ways is he/she demanding?
In what ways is he/she easy-going?
What do you think about the boss in this dialog?

 

Part 1
Listen for the answers to these questions about the following conversation:
Is this boss demanding or easy-going?
What is he asking his employee to do?
Is the employee prepared for this?


PRESENTATION 1

 

Dialog 1

Situation

 Click Answer Key

Audio ClipImagine you arrived at work on a Friday morning. Your thoughts are full of the trip you’ve planned to take on the weekend. You are going to the beach with your family.
As you walk into the office your boss greets you.

 

Did you get the answers?

 

 

Part 2

 Click Answer Key

Audio ClipListen again and see if you can answer these questions:

  • Why should they leave early?
  • What time is the flight?
  • Why didn’t Kim know about the plan?
  • What department does Kim work in?

Listen one more time and follow with the script to check your answers.


PRESENTATION 2
Part II
Study the words and phrases in Column B.
Listen to ‘5 Tips for Working with a Demanding Boss’.
Match the tip (Column A) to the given words or phrases (Column B).
There is one choice you will not need.

Column A

Column B

Tip 1

A Start with benefits/don’t bog down with details

Tip 2

B Ask for help/inform about successes and good performers

Tip 3

C Deliver projects on time/avoid chitchat

Tip 4

D Leave deadlines open ended/praise the company

Tip 5

E Talk about mistakes/prepare possible solutions

 

F Listen, evaluate, question/give direct feedback

(Source: Adapted from “Five Tips to Make Working for a Demanding Boss Easier” http://www.imakenews.com/worldwit/e_article000546950.cfm?x=b11,0,w retrieved 20/02/2012)

Click Answer Key
Tip 1 C
Tip 2 F
Tip 3 A
Tip 4 E
Tip 5 B

 

PRESENTATION 3
How many of the tactics might be possible in ASEAN countries with foreign bosses?

NB
Assumptions
The tactics should be used when there are benefits to working for the bad boss:
Connections you’d like to reach (you can be ‘seen’ by higher level executives).
Potential growth with the company where you’re now on a ‘stepping stone’.
If there is no future, or the cons outweigh the pros of the situation, then you should skip steps 1 – 8!

(Source: Adapted from “The Nightmare Boss” http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/how-to-deal-with-a-nightmare-boss.html retrieved 20/02/2012)

 

Do you ever need to ask for time off?
If there is a problem: a family member is sick, you need to visit the doctor or dentist.
You have a hospital appointment.
Someone is coming to visit from out of town, and you’d like to spend time with them.
What does your boss demand?

What about the boss in the next dialog? Easy-going or demanding?
Listen for the answers to these questions about the conversation:
Is this boss demanding or easy-going?
Can she book time off work?
Does the boss grant her favour?

 

Dialog 2

Situation
A staff member has a friend coming to visit, but she’s used up all her annual leave allocation. She asks her boss a favour.

Did you catch the answers?
Click Answer Key
Easy-going
No, she’s none left
Yes

Listen again and see if you can answer these questions:
Has the friend visited Thailand before?
Who is the friend coming with?
How long will he stay in Bangkok?
Where else does he wish to visit?
When will he arrive in Thailand?
How many days off does Sita get?

Click Answer Key
No
He’s coming alone
3 days
Chiang Mai or Phuket
A week on Wednesday
3 days

Listen one more time and follow with the script to check your answers.