Summary

Denise Winterman, the author of the article “From Nerd to Networker” published in BBC News Magazine emphasizes the significance of good communication skills for everyone who wants to have a successful business career. Being an expert in a professional area is not enough; most jobs nowadays require effective communication.

The article contains a brief guide to the social skills needed to be ahead in business. According to the author, the four skills are essential - communicating, team working, leadership and cultural awareness.

In terms of face-to-face communication even the most knowledgeable boffins might have difficulties in small talk. To solve the problem the use of the formula OPEN is recommended that stands for 'occupation, personal, environment and non-work activities‘, suggesting the range of topics for small talk.

The other skill is ability to work in a team which might be difficult for a person concentrated on solving a particular task. Being a good team player implies being a good listener, being assertive but respectful to others.

To improve leadership skills the author suggests a modeling technique, i.e. finding a role model with good leadership skills to watch and follow.

Finally, in modern globalized business environment cultural awareness will help a person to avoid mistakes in dealing with colleagues coming from different cultures.

Abstract

The article discusses the significance of good communicating skills for success in modern business environment. The author gives a few practical recommendations on developing such social skills as small talk, team working, leadership and cultural awareness. A formula encouraging small talk is suggested. The usefulness of a modeling technique for improving leadership skills is shown. The importance of raising cultural awareness to function in global business community is emphasized.

ANSWER KEY

Unit 1. Cross-cultural Communication

Language

2. 1 k; 2 f; 3 e; 4 j; 5 b; 6 h; 7 c; 8 i; 9 g; 10 a; 11 d.

6. 1. i; 2. J; 3.a; 4.k; 5.d; 5.e; 6.m; 7.f; 8.g; 8.h; 9.l; 10.n; 11.b; 12.c.

11. 1. C; 2. A; 3. B; 4.D; 5.B; 6.A; 7.B; 8.D; 9.B;10.B; 11.C; 12.B.

14. 1. OF, OF, OF, FROM, TO; 2.OF, OF, FOR; 3.OF, AT ;4. BY, FOR ; 5.OF, WITHOUT ; 6. FROM, INTO; 7. OF, BY, INTO, OF; 8. ON, AT, WITH; 9. FOR OF; 10. ON, WITH; 11. FOR; 12. ON; 13. WITHIN, OF.

Unit 2. Economics

Language

9.applicable, small, wonderful, beautiful, funny, green, produces, limits, anywhere, rooms, weak, childish, tiny, not, ancient, young.

10. competition, prices, system, quantities, consume, scarce, people, item, low, available, demand, reaction, supply, sufficient, needs, natural

11. 1- within; 2-on; 3-with; 4- under; 5- over; 6- for; 7- --; 8- far beyond; 9- for; 10- to; 11-for; 12- at; 13- in; 14- on; 15- on; 16- to; 17- with.

16. 1-j; 2-k; 30h; 4-m; 5-a; 6-I; 7-l; 8-b; 9-f; 10-g; 11-c; 12-d; 13-e.

18. were growing, were developing, were organized, called, were, were financed, supported, expected to protect, were developing, involved were dependent, to trade, financing, organizing, had, sailing, get, trade, went, had been playing, continued, to play, financing, establishing, supporting, was, to protect, had evolved, was marked, be classified, encouraged, limited, legitimized, financed, limited, to protect, favoured, allowed, to operate, kept, was not allowed, to respond.

Unit 3. Goods and Services

Reading

Text 2. 1-3; 2-10; 3-8; 4-7; 5-2; 6-4; 7-6; 8-5; 9-1.

Text 6. 1-F; 2-F; 3-F; 4-F;5-F; 6-T; 7-F; 8-T; 9-F;10-T.

Language

4. green, profound, maximum, following, across, quantity, beautiful, clever, cherry, well, boring, annually, narrow, future, raw, plus.

6. 1-a; 2-b; 3-c; 4d; 5-k; 6-j; 7-h; 8-e; 9-f; 10-g.

7. classify, generalization, customers, products, tangible, durable, nondurable, example, service, temporary, intangible, manufacture.

8. process, raw, broad, scope, includes, movement, storage, needed, production, planning, physical, occur, getting, customers, transportation, companies

12. 1-before; 2-of; 3-to; 4-due to; 5-with; 6-at; 7-on; 8-to; 9-at; 10-for; 11-on; 12-in, for; 13-on; 14-in,of; 15-into; 16-in.

15. 1. them meeting their partners at the airport. 2. the price to increase so fast.

3. us to purchase the equipment at a higher price. 4. you to check the data once again. 5. us to do it ourselves. 6. them to begin the manufacturing of new goods at the end of the year. 7. them discussing a new product with the director of the firm. 8. you to begin the development of a new package for your goods. 9. these goods to become out-of-date so soon. 10. to make the list of services your firm can offer to its clients.

Unit 4. Business Organisation:

Language

4. 1. multinational 2. parent company 3. associated company 4. commercial 5. venture 6. company 7. corporations 8. subsidiaries 9. acquisition 10. big business 11. conglomerates 12. mergers 13. shares 14. chairperson 15. chief executive;

5. 1. image 2. ladder 3. performance 4. culture 5. governance 6. strategy 7. collapses 8. logo;

6. 1. collapses 2. culture 3. strategies 4. ladder 5. governance 6. performance 7. logo; image;

7. to; with; of; in; into; of; in; of; at; into; for; of; of; with; from; among; to; at; on; to;

8. 1 b; 2a; 3g; 4f; 5t; 6d; 7c;

11. 1. multinationals 2. a holding company 3. a conglomerate 4. entrepreneur 5. board of directors 6. partnership 7. property 8. a franchise 9. private corporation 10. Takeover;

13. in; very; the; be; the; too; that; the; that; to; one; the; in; of; which; to; the; as; up;

14. has grown; observes; forced; forced; divides; began; have seen; were; has opened; rose; has increased; has also pushed; have always been; has just been built; have pulled;

15. 1.who 2. who 3. who 4. who 5. who; which 6. which; who 7. which 8.which 9. which 10. what 11. what 12.who;

17. the; the; -; the; a; the; the; a; the; the; the; the; the; the; a; the; the; the; an; the; the; the; a; a; a; a; the; the; a; the; the; a; the.