Expert Business: Task Briefing and Giving Instructions

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

Let’s practice some expressions. I will read each sentence first. Please read after me.
READ

When briefing tasks to employees , we may use the following expressions:

  1. I called for this meeting to brief you on a project that we are going to work on at the highest priority.
  2. I need you to oversee the developments of this project.
  3. Please make an assessment of our current resources based on that report. 
  4. You are assigned to look into the feasibility of this project’s completion in 3 months.
READING ALOUD

Let’s read the dialogue. I will be Mr. Evans and you will be Ms. Robins. After reading it once, we’ll switch roles.
READ

 

One morning, Mr. Evans called for a meeting to brief Ms. Robins on an important project.


 
Good morning, Ms. Robins. Thank you for making it despite the short notice. Please have a seat. As you already know, the company is set to launch new marketing campaigns across Central Europe within the next 8 months. I want you and your team to look into the feasibility of providing customer services here in the head office. Currently, the sales department on our branch offices handles everything concerning customer relations, but it is expected they will not be able to handle the influx of customers when the campaigns start.
 
Understood. May I ask which branch office are we assigned to coordinate with?

You and your team will be assigned to coordinate with one of the branch offices in Germany–the one in Berlin.
Duly noted. Here is the report you requested about the current operations.

 
Thank you. I will review your report as soon as I can. Here is mine. Please make an assessment of our current resources based on that report. Also, could you prepare a list of customer concerns and related processes that you and your team can handle?
 
Sure, I could do that. Allow me to get back with you on Friday.

Thank you. Let us keep each other posted on the latest developments.
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Please answer the questions based on the dialogue.
ANSWER

1. What did Mr. Evans want Ms. Robins to do with his report?
Answer: ________________
2. What tasks did Mr. Evans give Ms. Robins?
Answer: ________________
GUESS THE MEANING

Choose the correct meaning of the underlined word in each sentence.

ANSWER
  1. a. activities done to achieve goals
  2. c. possibility
  3. b. mass arrival

ANSWER

  1. The latest marketing campaign is successful.
    1. activities done to achieve goals
    2. management of people to achieve goals
    3. suggestions rejected to maximize performance
  2. The feasibility of this project to be depends on the team’s resourcefulness.
    1. ability
    2. future
    3. possibility
  3. The influx of customers is unexpected.
    1. anger
    2. mass arrival
    3. slow arrival
CONVERSATION PRACTICE

Let’s talk. Please answer my questions.
ANSWER

1. Was there ever a time you were frustrated at work because of unclear instructions given by your colleagues? How did you deal with the situation?
Answer: ________________
2. Have you ever experienced being given tasks with impractical and unattainable goals/objectives? How did you deal with the situation?
Answer: ________________
SITUATION QUESTIONS

Please tell me what you will do given the following situations.
ANSWER

1. You were given tasks to complete on a very tight schedule, and you know you would not be able to finish them because you would be on a week-long vacation. What would you do?
Answer: ________________
2. You and your team were briefed on a new project, but you failed to take note of a few important details about the project. You knew that you would not be able to accomplish your tasks as intended because of that. What would you do?
Answer: ________________