Speak Business English Like an American » LESSON 11 - Motivating Co-workers

Motivating Co-workers

Greg, Stan, and Donna work for Pack-It, a maker of trash bags and other consumer goods. After disappointing sales results, they discuss exiting the trash bag business. But a fresh new idea gives them hope for the future.

Greg: Our sales were down again last quarter.

Donna: We've been working our tails off and our results are still lousy!

Greg: Maybe we should exit the trash bag business —just call it quits!

Stan: C'mon.* Let's not throw in the towel yet. We've been down before, but we always come back fighting.

Donna: But this time private-label products are driving us out of business!

Stan: We've got a successful track record. Everybody knows that we offer quality trash bags.

Donna: That's true, but we can't just rest on our laurels forever.

Stan: Well, I have a new idea that's going to turn around our business. It's a new line of trash bags that smell like fresh fruits, such as apples and peaches.

Greg: That sounds like a great idea. I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get down to business!

Stan: I appreciate your team spirit! Donna, are you on board too?

Donna: Sure. Count me in.

Stan: Great. Let's get everybody else in the company excited about this plan too. I'll count on you two to rally the troops.

* c'mon - This casual expression is short for "come on" and here means "listen to me."

Idioms
  • (to) work one's tail off
    to work very hard
    EXAMPLE: The software developers worked their tails off to get the new software package released before Christmas.
  • (to) call it quits
    to give up; to quit; to stop; to admit defeat
    EXAMPLE: When Borders announced they were building a new bookstore in town, the small book shop decided to call it quits.
  • (to) throw in the towel
    to give up; to surrender; to admit defeat
    EXAMPLE: After several years of trying to run a small business from his home, Patrick finally decided to throw in the towel.

    ORIGIN: This idiom comes from boxing. When a fighter was losing a match, his assistant would toss a towel into the ring to signal defeat and end the game. That towel was the same one used to wipe the sweat and blood off the boxer's face.

  • We've been down before, but we always come back fighting.
    everything is going to be okay; we've had trouble in the past too, and we managed to get over that
    EXAMPLE: We need to be optimistic about our future. We've been down before, but we always come back fighting.
  • track record
    a record of achievement or performances
    EXAMPLE: General Electric has a proven track record of making successful acquisitions.
  • (to) rest on one's laurels
    to believe that past success is enough to guarantee that the future will also be successful; to rely too much on reputation
    EXAMPLE: The CEO made several positive changes during his first two years with the company, but now people say he's just resting on his laurels.

    ORIGIN: In Ancient Roman times, a crown made of laurels (from the laurel tree) was a symbol of victory.

  • (to) turn around one's business
    to make a business profitable again; to go from not making profits to being profitable again
    EXAMPLE: The telecom company was able to turn around its business by developing a popular new line of services.
  • (to) roll up one's sleeves
    to get ready to start something; to prepare to do something
    EXAMPLE: We've got to pack up 500 crystal vases by tomorrow morning, so let's roll up our sleeves and get to work.
  • (to) get down to business
    to start work; to begin discussing the important issues
    EXAMPLE: We could talk about last night's baseball game for hours, but let's get down to business and start the negotiation.
  • team spirit
    enthusiasm; enthusiasm about doing something for the group
    EXAMPLE: Jill is always organizing company trips and lunches. She's got a lot of team spirit.
  • on board
    ready to participate; in agreement
    EXAMPLE: Before we agree to sign this contract with our new partner, we'd better make sure our president is on board.
  • count me in
    I will participate
    EXAMPLE: You're organizing a farewell party for Christine? Count me in.

    NOTE: You may also hear the shorter variation of this expression: I'm in. Example: You're organizing a farewell party for Christine? I'm in.

  • (to) rally the troops
    to motivate others; to get other people excited about doing something; to do something to improve the morale of the employees and get them energized about doing their work
    EXAMPLE: After the lay-offs and salary cuts, the airline president organized a meeting to rally the troops and plan for the next year.

    NOTE: The verb "to rally" has several definitions, but in this case means to "call together for a common goal or purpose." Troops is an informal way of describing a group of employees. The term comes from the military — a troop is a military unit.

Practice The Idioms

Fill in the blanks using the following idioms:

  • track record
  • count me in
  • rally the troops
  • throw in the towel
  • on board
  • team spirit
  • turn around our business
  • working their tails off

Kim: Sales at our Westport furniture store are down by 50 percent this year. I've got a plan to (1)___________ . For the month of December, we'll stand on street corners with big signs advertising our store.

Jason: Stand on street corners in this cold weather? Maybe we should just (2)___________ and close the Westport store. Our other five stores are still doing well.

Cindy: Kim, I like your idea. I'm ready to participate. (3)___________ !

Mark: I'm (4)___________ too.

Cindy: I'd be happy to (5)___________ and get all of our other employees to join us, starting with Jason.

Kim: Yeah, Jason. Where's your (6)___________ ? Everybody else is going to participate.

Mark: Right, Jason. You're going to feel guilty when everybody else is (7)___________ outside while you're inside drinking coffee and relaxing.

Jason: Okay, I'll do it. I just can't believe that with our excellent (8)___________ , we now have to take such desperate action!

Answer Key
Practice The Idioms
  1. turn around our business
  2. throw in the towel
  3. count me in
  4. on board
  5. rally the troops
  6. team spirit
  7. working their tails off
  8. track record
Answer Key
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