English for everybody
UNIT 1. NEGOTIATIONS
We met with representatives from
the other company for over 4 hours yesterday. Jerry didn't waste any time. He took
the bull by the horns and gave them our list of concerns right away. Then he
asked for a list of their concerns and put both lists on the white board, so he
could be sure we were all on the same page. He told the group that we were going
to have to think out of the box and suggest creative solutions. We talked for
over an hour. Jerry likes to shoot from the hip, which makes some people
uncomfortable because he's very direct. Because we have such different corporate
cultures, I didn’t think the two groups would ever see eye to eye on the goals.
However,during the second hour, Jerry said he was willing to bend over
backwards and work very hard to address their concerns. I think that impressed
them. He talked about the advantages of the deal, and then he really laid it on
the line and left the next move up to them. At one point, I thought the other
company might back out and leave the table, but Jerry kept the discussion
going. There was a lot of give and take; they finally met us halfway, and we cut
the deal over dinner that night. I was surprised that our relationship as competitors
didn’t get in the way. Jerry was able to convince them to look at those old conflicts
as water under the bridge. He got them to focus on the future, and the result
was clearly a win-win situation for both companies.
1. Take the bull by the horns: directly confront a problem
or challenge.
He decided to take the
bull by the horns and talk to the president about the problem.
She took the bull by
the horns and asked her boss for a raise.
2. Be on the same page: have the same understanding about the
situation or information.
I want to make sure we
share the same expectations. We need to be on the same page before I give you
the money to do the work.
I need to meet with
Jim before the negotiations so we are on the same page when we meet with the
other company.
3. Think out of the box: be creative or non-traditional; approach
a situation or problem in a new way.
Nothing we’ve tried so
far has worked. We need to ask Gordon for his ideas
because he thinks out of the box.
Let’s brainstorm some
ideas hers. Concentrate on some new and different
solutions. We need to think out of the box.
4. Shoot from the hip: be very direct; express ideas without
planning.
She likes to shoot
from the hip, but honestly makes people angry sometimes.
You usually know what
he is thinking because he shoots from the hip.
5. See eye to eye: to agree about or have the same
perspective on [something]
I’d like her to be on
my team. We see eye to eye most of the time.
We haven’t been able
to agree. We don’t see eye to eye on this.
6. Bend over backwards: try very hard to please someone or
to do something.
She bent over backwards
to try and make him happy, but he was never satisfied.
I want you to bend over
backwards for this customer. It’s a very important account.
7. Lay it on the line: be very direct or frank
I laid it on the
line. I told him I didn’t love him anymore.
We’re tired of all
the careful words. Just lay it on the line for us.
8. Back out: change or cancel an agreement or an arrangement
The investors backed
out of the contract at the last minute, so we couldn’t go ahead with the building.
I don’t trust her.
She often backs out at the last minute.
9. Give and take: cooperation or compromise
It took a lot of give
and take, but I think we finally reached an agreement that satisfied everyone.
He was used to
working alone. In his new job, he had to learn to participate in the give and
take.
10. Meet someone halfway: compromise
If you can meet me
halfway, I think we can reach an agreement.
They met us halfway,
so that we could make a deal that worked for all of us.
11. Cut the/a deal: reach an agreement
They cut the deal
over lunch.
We hope to cut a deal
by Friday.
12. Water under the bridge: a part issue or problem that is
no longer a concern
Don’t worry about
that mistake. It’s water under the bridge.
Let’s not focus on an
old disagreement. We need to move forward. Those problems are just water under
the bridge.
13. A win-win situation: a situation where everyone involved
benefits or wins.
The negotiations went
well. We both got what we wanted most. It was a win-win situation.
I enjoy working with her.
We both contribute something useful. It’s a win-win situation.
9:09 AM
Trung
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