IELTS Listening 7 - Section 4
IELTS Listening Tip
Remember that although the information on the question paper will paraphrase the information that you hear, it will be in the same order. Make sure you keep to the word limit you are given and be careful to check your spelling at the end. You can write your answers in capital letters or lower case.
Section 4: You will hear a talk on bullying in the workplace, giving by a university lecturer to a group of students. First you have some time to look at Questions 31-33.
Now Listen carefully and answer Questions 31 to 33:
Questions 31-33
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Notes:
- insufficient experience,
- insecurity, or
- a lack of on the part of managers.
Now look at Questions 34 to 40:
Main methods of bullying
- Setting tasks.
- Constantly moving the goalposts.
- Stopping individuals to criticism.
- Not or replying to e-mails. This means you cannot expect your staff to you.
- Using technology. Companies should develop an of practice.
Task
- In groups other bullying strategies and ways in which they can be .
Questions 31-33
Good morning, my name is Dr Mervin Forest and I specialize in management techniques
and training. I've been invited here today to talk to you about the cost to
the economy of bad management ... and what I would like to dwell on first is
an area that has recently been exercising everyone and that is coercion in the
workplace, or to put it more simply, bullying.
It has been estimated that bullying at work costs the British economy up to
four billion pounds a year in lost working time and in legal fees. And with
the problem apparently on the increase, it is time that managers took on board
what is happening. I would like to think that what is perceived as bullying
is nothing more than lack of experience, insecurity or lack of awareness on
the part of managers, and not a conscious effort to attack someone, but that
is perhaps a case of, of ... my being naive, or over-hopeful.
Before we break up into groups to look at the first task on the handout you've
got, I'd like to give you a start with some of the main bullying methods that
have been identified so far. Basically, what I'm going to do here is to give
you examples of one or two points. Can you all read the OHP clearly? Yes? Right.
Off we go.
Questions 34-40
The first item on the list is giving people tasks which managers themselves
cannot do and which are, therefore, impossible to achieve. This is, in fact,
a very common strategy used by managers to 'manage' their subordinates. It gives
certain people a false sense of security as they watch others failing while
they try to a task! This is not bad management; it is just plain stupid. All
targets and goals set should be easily achieved within a realistic time-scale.
Sending memos to someone else criticizing the performance of a task where the
individual has no way of replying is another common technique; especially when
the manager concerned does not reply or makes it impossible for subordinates
to contact him or her by not answering the telephone or not replying to e-mails.
This is not the style of a sound manager, but rather the antics of someone with
emotional problems. If you behave like that, don't expect your staff to respect
you.
And now the technological bully. It is interesting how all tools designed to
help can be turned into dangerous weapons. The 'urgent e-mail' bully is fast
becoming a problem in the office. Employees turn on their computers to be faced
with a string of badly worded e-mails, making instant and often unrealistic
demands, which reveal the hysteria mode of management. Have you ever felt a
sense of dread before looking at your e-mail, even your personal messages? All
companies should develop a company strategy whereby there is an a-mail code
of practice, with offensive messages being forwarded to a designated person
for appropriate action.
I would now like you to break up into groups and brainstorm other bullying techniques
which you think you may have experienced and, perhaps, if you are honest, which
you have been party to. I can think of at least nine more bullying strategies.
I would also like you to consider ways in which you think that each of the techniques
on your list can be countered.
Is everyone clear as to what the task is? Yes? Okay. You have got twenty minutes
to do this.