In this two-part series on resolving conflict, we’ll be studying useful language for discussing and resolving disagreements.
We will be focusing not on major conflicts between companies or inside organizations, but rather on the everyday sort of disagreements that all of us have to deal with to be successful in our work.
Listening Questions
1) Gerry says he wants to “sit down informally and thrash things out a little.” What do you think this means?
“To thrash things out” is an idiom that means to discuss things. It often carries the specific meaning of discussing things when there may be some sort of disagreement or difference of opinion.
2) A strain is something that is tiring and, perhaps, irritating. What does Gerry say is “getting to be kind of a strain?”
Gerry says it’s “getting to be kind of a strain” that he is “the last one out of here almost every night,” that is, the last person to leave the office.
3) What solution does Gerry propose?
Gerry proposes passing on to the trainers as much of the admin, that is the administration work, as possible.
