Unit 6

Word

Definition

Example

actually

in fact or really

It was actually one of the most rewarding things I've ever done

be clear to somebody

easy to understand

Also, it's not clear to me what you mean by 'caring'

be concerned about

worried

I'm concerned about how that would work in practice

be convinced by

feeling certain that something is true

To tell you the truth, I'm not totally convinced by it

boost earnings

to improve or increase the profit that a company or country makes

Jim McNerney set out to boost earnings from the start

bounce around

to increase and decrease in level many times, so that it may be hard to say what is going to happen

3M's culture had always involved bouncing around new ideas

cause a stir

to cause trouble in a group of people; to shock or alarm people

McNerney caused quite a stir at 3M when he took over

certainly

used to reply completely or to emphasize something and show that there is no doubt about it

I would certainly need to know that it's profitable

come to fruition

to successfully complete an activity or plan

How can we make change come to fruition?

control costs

to decide or strongly influence the particular way in which the amount of money needed for a business or to do a particular job is spent

Six Sigma aims to control costs and increase efficiency

cut into the bottom line

to reduce the total profit or loss of a company at the end of a particular period of time

How do you create space for innovative ideas without cutting into the bottom line?

easily the best

definitely the best

It's easily the best idea I've heard so far

enthusiasm

a feeling of energetic interest in a particular subject or activity and an eagerness to be involved in it

Implement your decisions with enthusiasm

evaluate

to judge or calculate the quality, importance, amount, or value of something

Clarify and then evaluate the idea

fall by the wayside

if something falls by the wayside, people stop doing it, making it, or using it

Some of the strict, formal obligations fell by the wayside

figure out

to understand or solve something

George Buckley was hired to figure out and handle the cultural tensions

get off the ground

to start or cause to start happening successfully

Don't give up when projects fail to get off the ground

get something back on track

to continue doing something as planned or expected, typically after a problem or distraction

Six Sigma temporarily got 3M's performance back on track

hit on

to think of an idea unexpectedly or unintentionally

Employees would think outside the box in order to hit on the next new idea

can't help wondering

used for saying that someone cannot stop themselves thinking about things in a questioning and sometimes doubting way

I can't help wondering whether it would be cost-effective

just

now, very soon, or very recently

I'm just not convinced

look beyond

to ignore, disregard, or forgive something; to overlook something

3M encourages individual initiative, and looks beyond mistakes

obviously

in a way that is easy to understand or see

You've obviously given this some thought

only

used to show that there is a single one or very few of something, or that there are no others

Look, I only say so because there's big money in energy-saving

outperform

to do well in a particular job or activity compared to others of a similar type

Buckley was convinced he could outperform the competition

pursue

to carry out or follow an activity, interest, or plan

We encourage employees to pursue ideas to get the best results

put forward

to state an idea or opinion, or to suggest a plan or person, for other people to consider

You should put forward your idea at the next team meeting

put somebody on the spot

to cause someone embarrassment or difficulty by forcing them at that moment to answer a difficult question or make an important decision

You've put me on the spot here

really

in fact

I don't really think we could get away with that, do you?

recognize

to accept that something is legal, true, or important

He helped employees recognize how new practices were important to the larger vision and purpose

run into

to experience something unexpectedly

When 3M ran into difficulty, their success waned

think outside the box

to think imaginatively using new ideas instead of traditional or expected ideas

To come up with new ideas, you need to think outside the box

thinking about it

to consider doing something

But thinking about it, we could even set up a programme where staff can choose

tolerate

to bear something unpleasant or annoying, or to keep going despite difficulties

Six Sigma is a programme that doesn't tolerate mistakes easily

totally

completely

I'm not totally convinced

try out

to test something such as a method or a piece of equipment to see if it is effective or works properly

3M had promoted trying things out and making mistakes as a method

undergo change

if you undergo a change it happens to you or is done to you

They underwent significant changes when McNerney took over

vague

not clearly expressed, known, described, or decided

You can use vague language to avoid saying no directly