How To Deal With Difficult Colleagues
Business English
Advanced
In this ESL business lesson plan on how to deal with difficult colleagues, we'll explore effective strategies for managing challenging colleagues. Drawing insights from an awesome video, your ESL student’s language skills will improve while delving into practical workplace communication tips.
Pre-Lesson Work.
Instructions:
Download and send the pre-lesson work to your students for class preparation.
Warm Up.
Activity Instructions
Do the following office behaviours annoy you? Disucss each one, and share your own thoughts and experiences.
Activity Aim
Introduce the topic through an engaging exercise.
Activity Time
5 minutes.
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Strong smelling foods in shared spaces.
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Loud colleagues / Talking loudly on the phone.
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Gossiping.
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Unnecessary or boring meetings.
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Small talk.
Questions.
Activity Instructions
Discuss the following questions as a class.
Activity Aim
Introduce the topic through engaging questions.
Activity Time
10 minutes.
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Building on the previous exercise, what are some behaviours that you would consider as difficult or challenging in a workplace?
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Do you believe there are more or fewer annoyances while working at home?
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How important is communication when dealing with challenging colleagues?
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Do you think it is important to have good relationships with your co-workers?
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Describe some of the relationships you have at work with colleagues.
Video.
Activity Instructions
Watch the video before or during the class.
Activity Aim
Discuss how to deal with difficult colleagues through an awesome video.
Activity Time
5 minutes.
True or False.
Activity Instructions
Decide if the following statements are true or false.
Activity Aim
Ensure students understand the ideas and concepts presented in the video.
Activity Time
5 minutes.
According to the video, 94% of people have not worked with a toxic person in the last five years.
of 8
False.
According to the video, 94% of people say they’ve worked with a toxic person in the last five years.
of 8
Tip 1 emphasises the importance of maintaining a rigid perspective and not considering other people's views.
of 8
False.
Tip 1 emphasises the importance of considering other people's perspectives and not getting fixated on thinking one's view is the only one that counts.
of 8
Tip 2 suggests viewing tough situations at work as a personal fight between you and your colleagues.
of 8
False.
Tip 2 suggests viewing tough situations at work as a shared problem to be solved, not as a personal fight between you and your colleagues.
of 8
Tip 3 encourages a one-size-fits-all approach when dealing with difficult people.
of 8
False.
Tip 3 encourages being open-minded and ready to try different strategies when dealing with difficult people.
of 8
Tip 4 advises adopting a curious mindset when dealing with difficult co-workers.
of 8
True.
of 8
According to the video, using "I" statements is discouraged when addressing a co-worker about their behaviour.
of 8
False.
When addressing a co-worker about their behaviour, it's important to use "I" statements to express your feelings without blaming the other person.
of 8
Tip 5 suggests expressing your feelings about a co-worker's behaviour using "I" statements.
of 8
True.
of 8
The video concludes that keeping the five tips in mind can improve your chances of building stronger relationships at work.
of 8
True.
of 8
Vocabulary.
Activity Instructions
Match the definitions to the correct words.
Activity Aim
Learn or revise key words and phrases from the video.
Activity Time
5 minutes.
of 6
Video Quotes.
Activity Instructions
Complete the quotes by choosing the correct words.
Activity Aim
Improve reading and comprehension skills, and expand vocabulary.
Activity Time
10 minutes.
Discussion.
Activity Instructions
Discuss the following questions as a class.
Activity Aim
Learn through speaking and making errors. Have fun!
Activity Time
25 minutes.
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Have you worked with a toxic person within the last 5 years? Describe their toxic traits or behaviours.
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Can you share an experience where you had to deal with a difficult colleague?
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Do you think it's better to confront or avoid problems with co-workers? Why?
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Are there specific techniques or tips you follow to maintain positive relationships with colleagues?
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Why is it important to try and see things from the other person’s perspective?
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What's your take on seeing work problems as a team issue instead of a fight between individuals? Can you share an example?
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Do you agree with the following quote? “Dealing with difficult people is unique to each person and situation.” Explain.
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Do you think the "I" statements versus "you" statements approach is effective in expressing feelings about a co-worker's behaviour? How might this approach impact communication and resolution?
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How would an effective manager encourage a team to work collectively and avoid an "us versus them" mentality in the workplace? Can you share any specific strategies or experiences?
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How can feedback be useful in dealing with difficult co-workers? Have you ever used feedback to improve a work relationship?
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What are the pros and cons of expressing your thoughts and feelings when a co-worker's behaviour makes the work environment uncomfortable?
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Do you think it's better to confront the person directly or seek help from a supervisor in challenging situations?
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How can challenging experiences with co-workers contribute to personal and professional growth?
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In your opinion, what role does team building play in preventing conflicts among co-workers? Can you suggest some team-building activities?
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How do cultural differences impact interactions with colleagues, and how can you navigate them effectively?
Famous Quotes.
Activity Instructions
Discuss the following famous quotes related to colleagues and conflicts as a class.
Activity Aim
Encourages students to have to thoughtful discussions and gain new insights.
Activity Time
15 minutes.
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"Great things in business are never done by one person. They're done by a team of people." - Steve Jobs
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"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." - African Proverb
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"A successful team is a group of many hands but of one mind." - Bill Bethel
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"Conflict is neither good nor bad. Properly managed, it is absolutely vital." - Ken Blanchard
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"Stay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution." - Albert Einstein
Hypothetical.
Activity Instructions
Read and discuss each situation, then state what you would do, explaining why.
Activity Aim
Enable students to confront challenging scenarios and consolidate their learning from the lesson by providing opportunities for practice.
Activity Time
15 minutes.
Homework.
Instructions:
Download the homework PDF and send to the student.
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