Business English Pod / Business English

Business English

Business English Pod lessons are suitable for all levels of business English. The lessons look at all kinds of workplace English skills for meetings, presentations, telephoning, negotiating, job interviews, travel, and business conversation.

BEP 418 – English for Projects: Managing Conflict with Contractors 1

Business English, IT English and Tech, Project Management /

BEP 418 LESSON - English for Projects: Managing Conflict with Contractors 1

Welcome back to Business English Pod for the first in a two-part lesson on English for project management and dealing with subcontractors. In this lesson we’re going to look at how to manage conflict with an external contractor.

Very few projects run perfectly smoothly. There are just too many variables involved to expect nothing to go wrong. One of the trickiest variables in any project is the people involved. And some of the trickiest people issues are conflicts with subcontractors or external vendors.

Conflict with subcontractors is almost inevitable. Different companies have different goals, priorities, and communication styles. Project managers who know how to handle tension early can prevent escalation and maintain a productive working relationship. And this can keep everyone focused on results instead of resentment.

Managing conflicts well requires a very tricky balance. You need to address issues and accountability head-on, while remaining diplomatic. You need to set expectations but steer away from too much blame. And it can be very helpful, as you do this, to reference documents to achieve clarity.

In today’s dialog, we’ll listen to a telephone conversation featuring a project manager named Celia at a software development company. Her company has outsourced the payment gateway module of a new banking app. Now she’s talking to Raj from the subcontractor about their first delivery, which doesn’t meet expectations.

Listening Questions

1. What are the problems that Celia introduces directly near the start of the dialog?
2. What document does Celia refer to in order to clarify their agreement?
3. At the end of the dialog, Celia sets some clear expectations. What’s the timeline she expects for the actions she mentions?

Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module

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Business English App for iOS – New Version Available

Announcements, Business English, Mobile Learning /

We’re excited to introduce Version 3.0 of our Business English by BEP app for Apple iOS is now available in the App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/app/business-english-by-bep/id568878613

This release is our most significant update in years, and it brings a fresh new look, smoother performance, and a better learning experience from the moment you open the app.

Business English App for iOS - New Version 3.0 available

All-new interface and modern design
A cleaner, more intuitive layout makes lessons easier to find, navigate, and manage your learning.

Enhanced lesson screens with new audio player
You’ll now find improved audio controls at both the top and bottom of each lesson page.

Continuous audio playback
Move seamlessly between lesson pages and lists without stopping the audio.

Smarter search + continuous scrolling
The new search and scroll functions help you browse and discover content faster.

Dark Mode support
Reduce eye strain and enjoy a new look with Dark Mode compatibility.

Bug fixes, performance upgrades, and updated code
The app is now more stable, faster, and ready for future improvements.

Watch out for new lesson updates – available in both Android and Apple/iOS.

If you already have the app installed, simply update through the App Store.
If you’re new to BEP, now is the perfect time to start learning.

Download Business English by BEP for iOS
https://apps.apple.com/app/business-english-by-bep/id568878613

Skills 360 – Developing a Persuasive Approach (2)

Business English, Business Skills 360, Communication, Persuasion /

Skills 360 - Developing a Persuasive Approach in Business 2

Welcome back to the Business English Skills 360 podcast as we continue our look at how to develop a persuasive approach in business.

To be persuasive in business, you need more than facts and logic, and you must also connect emotionally. People make decisions with both their minds and their hearts, so showing warmth and friendliness helps make them more open to your ideas.

You don’t need to be overly social; simply showing empathy and genuine interest in others is enough. Asking questions not only builds rapport but also gives you insight into what motivates people, allowing you to adapt your approach.

Emotions play a key role in persuasion. You can appeal to fear (“sales may drop if we don’t act”), hope (“this plan will give us our weekends back”), or pride (“this will make us leaders in our field”). Another powerful emotion is belonging – people want to feel part of a group or shared vision. You can use this by framing your message around teamwork or industry trends (“the whole industry is moving this way”).

A couple of useful techniques are contrasting and hyperbole. Contrasting means presenting two choices where one clearly supports your message. Adding hyperbole, or deliberate exaggeration, can also make your message more memorable (“this could be the most important decision in our company’s history”).

Persuasion isn’t purely an exercise in logic. It’s not just people’s minds that you need to consider, but also their hearts. That’s why we try to make a connection with them emotionally, or personally. We try to learn about them so we can adapt our approach. We appeal to a broad range of their emotions. And we use techniques like contrast and hyperbole to ramp up the impact of our ideas.

Members: Lesson Module | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript

Download: Podcast MP3

Skills 360 – Developing a Persuasive Approach (1)

Business English, Business Skills 360, Communication, Persuasion /

Skills 360 - Developing a Persuasive Approach 1

Welcome back to the Business English Skills 360 podcast as we look at how to develop a persuasive approach in business.

Persuasion is one of the most valuable skills in business, enabling professionals to influence decisions, gain support, and advance ideas. But effective persuasion is not about slick talk or manipulation – it relies on sincerity and well-chosen techniques.

Sincerity is the foundation. People are persuaded when they believe you genuinely believe what you are saying. If your audience senses dishonesty or hidden motives, trust quickly erodes. To demonstrate sincerity, share how you came to believe in your idea. For example, acknowledge initial doubts and explain what changed your perspective. Transparency also plays a major role. If you stand to benefit personally, acknowledge it openly while emphasizing broader benefits. This honesty builds trust and credibility.

Once sincerity is established, persuasion comes down to tailoring your approach to your audience. Logical thinkers respond to structured reasoning, such as outlining clear criteria for a plan. Others may be more influenced by authority or social proof, in which case citing respected figures or supporters can be effective. The key is to understand what motivates the people you are trying to influence.

Beyond adapting to individual mindsets, several techniques are broadly effective. Repetition reinforces ideas and makes them more memorable. For example, emphasizing a chain of cause and effect – like lowering costs leading to stronger growth – creates impact. Rhetorical questions are another powerful tool, framing choices in a way that guides the audience toward your conclusion without directly telling them what to think.

In short, successful persuasion blends sincerity with strategy. Believe in your message, be transparent about your motives, and then apply techniques that resonate with your audience. With this balance of trust and skill, you can significantly enhance your ability to persuade in business.

Members: Lesson Module | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript

Download: Podcast MP3