Unit 7

Word

Definition

Example

occur

To happen or take place

Accidents can occur unexpectedly

pull one's weight

To contribute one's fair share of effort or work

Everyone must pull their weight to meet the deadline

commitment

Dedication or a promise to do something

Her dedication and commitment are commendable

micromanaging

Excessively controlling or overseeing small details

Micromanaging can demotivate employees

get out of hand

To become unmanageable or chaotic

The situation can quickly get out of hand if not addressed

line manager

A supervisor or manager within an organization who is responsible for overseeing and leading a specific team or department

The line manager provided guidance to the team during the project

be on top of one's game

To perform exceptionally well or at one's best

He's always on top of his game during presentations

raise the issue

To bring up or discuss a problem or concern

Feel free to raise the issue during the meeting

fine line

A subtle or narrow distinction between two things

There's a fine line between confidence and arrogance

out of line

Behaving inappropriately or beyond acceptable boundaries

His behavior was out of line and inappropriate

toe the line

To conform to rules or expectations

Employees are expected to toe the company's line

cross the line

To violate rules or boundaries

His comments crossed the line of professionalism

lead to conflict

To cause or result in a disagreement or dispute

Miscommunication can often lead to conflict

spreading rumours

Circulating unverified information or gossip

Spreading rumours can damage workplace relationships

conciliation

The act of mediating or reconciling differences

The process of conciliation is important after a conflict

clash

A conflict or disagreement, often involving opposing interests

Their clash of opinions led to a heated argument

escalate

To intensify or increase in severity

If not resolved, the issue can escalate into a bigger problem

resolution

A solution or outcome of a problem or dispute

Finding a resolution is key to a harmonious work environment

dwell

To focus or linger on something, often negative thoughts

Let's not dwell on mistakes; let's focus on solutions

be preoccupied with blame

To be excessively concerned with assigning fault

Some team members are preoccupied with placing blame

pin the blame

To attribute responsibility for a problem or mistake

It's unfair to pin the blame on a single person

create power struggle

To cause a competition for control or influence

Poor communication can create a power struggle

deal with conflict

To address or manage disagreements or disputes

A mediator can help deal with conflict resolution

exacerbate tension

To worsen or increase existing stress or strain

Ignoring the issue can exacerbate tension in the team

gain one's trust

To earn someone's confidence or belief

Through its history, the firm has gained the trust and commitment of its customers, many of which use its services on an ongoing basis

conceivable

Possible to imagine or believe

Solving this issue is conceivable with cooperation

reassure

To provide comfort or relief from anxiety

The manager reassured the team about the changes

come up with one's own solution

To independently devise an answer or resolution

They encouraged employees to come up with their own solutions

reframe the differences

To alter the perspective or interpretation of disparities

Let's reframe our differences as opportunities for growth

have a lot on one's plate

To have many tasks or responsibilities to handle

She has a lot on her plate with multiple projects

hindsight

Understanding or insight gained after an event has occurred

In hindsight, we should have taken a different approach

get a word in edgeways

To have a chance to speak or be heard in a conversation

It's hard to get a word in edgeways during that meeting

outranged

Extremely angry or offended

His actions outranged his colleagues' expectations

gripes

Complaints or grievances

The staff meeting gave everyone a chance to voice their gripes

upfront

Honest and straightforward in communication

She's always upfront about her expectations

niggle

A minor or persistent annoyance

A small issue can often niggle at the team's morale

daunt

To intimidate or discourage

The challenge didn't daunt her; she faced it head-on

mediating conflict

Facilitating resolution or compromise in conflicts

The HR department specializes in mediating conflicts

undergo constant change

To continuously experience alterations or transformations

In our industry, we undergo constant change

vital

Extremely important or essential

Communication is vital for a well-functioning team

frustration

Feeling of annoyance or disappointment due to obstacles or difficulties

Unresolved issues can lead to frustration among employees

recap

To summarize or review key points or events

Let's recap the main points of the discussion

exit interview

A conversation with an employee leaving a job to gather feedback

The exit interview helps gather feedback from departing employees

be frank and honest

To be straightforward and truthful in communication

During the meeting, she encouraged everyone to be frank and honest

rather than

Instead of

Let's focus on solutions rather than dwelling on problems

concrete evidence

Solid and verifiable proof or facts

We need concrete evidence to support our claims

meet one's targets

To achieve set goals or objectives

She consistently meets her targets every quarter

reps (=representatives)

Individuals or agents representing a group or organization

The reps from different departments are here for the meeting

SMT (senior management team)

The top executives or leaders within an organization

The SMT will make the final decision

be aware of issues

To have knowledge or understanding of problems or concerns

Managers need to be aware of potential issues within the team

drop in staff morale

A decrease in employee satisfaction or motivation

The recent layoffs caused a drop in staff morale

gradual increase

A slow and steady rise or growth

There has been a gradual increase in productivity