Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers provides B2-level class material on 'managing up'. Students learn vocabulary and grammar for communicating effectively and diplomatically with senior colleagues in a professional business setting.
This business English lesson helps students master the art of 'managing up' and influencing senior stakeholders. The class material includes a vocabulary matching exercise, a listening gap-fill task on core principles, and a grammar focus on using modal verbs for diplomatic language. Students study useful phrases for professional communication before applying everything they've learned in a practical role-play scenario where they must update a senior manager about a project risk.
Activities
- Students begin by discussing the concept of 'managing up' and then match key business vocabulary, such as 'stakeholder,' 'proactive,' and 'rapport,' with their definitions to build a foundation for the lesson's core topic.
- Through a listening gap-fill exercise, students identify the core principles of influencing senior colleagues. This is followed by comprehension questions to ensure they understand the key messages from the audio.
- The lesson focuses on diplomatic language, teaching students to soften direct requests using modal verbs like 'could' and 'might.' They practice this by rewriting sentences and studying a bank of useful professional phrases.
- The lesson culminates in a practical role-play where students act as a project lead and a senior manager. They must use the target language to proactively update their manager on a project risk and request support diplomatically.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson focuses on professional vocabulary essential for influencing senior colleagues. Key terms include: stakeholder, rapport, anticipate, proactive, strategic objectives, frame, secure (support), and influence. These words help students communicate with precision and professionalism in a business environment.
Grammar focus
The grammar section concentrates on using diplomatic language, which is crucial for communicating with managers. Students learn to use modal verbs (could, would, might) and softening phrases to transform direct or demanding statements into polite, collaborative, and respectful suggestions or requests.
