lingua house
TM
Innovation in Learning
A A BUSINESS ISSUES
Motivation
Lesson code: C66K-522E-5DA9 INTERMEDIATE
1 Warm up
Look at the words below. Discuss which ideas you think are most motivating for office staff.
the sound of old-fashioned typewriters clear desks pleasant-smelling offices
in-office doctors treadmill desks free food arcade machines
slides instead of stairs
2 Vocabulary - Key words
Match the underlined words to their definitions below.
1. When I saw my childhood home, I was full of nostalgia.
2. According to the survey, workers are more stressed than in the past.
3. They regularly perfume the office to get rid of unwanted smell.
4. Joe is not at work today. He has a day off.
5. Living 5 minutes from my work is very convenient.
6. After jogging in the park for an hour, I decided to have a 30-minute nap.
7. It was time for lunch, but Mike wasn't hungry because he'd just eaten a snack.
8. The manager's compliment was very sincere. It was clear that he wasn't pretending.
a. a collection of people's opinions
b. a day when you are not working on a normal working day
c. a short sleep
d. a small amount of food eaten between meals
e. a strong feeling of desire for things, people or situations in the past
f. genuine, honest
g. give a pleasant smell to something
h. located where there is easy access to a place
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Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
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lingua house
TM
Motivation
Innovation in Learning
A A A A BUSINESS ISSUES
3 Find the information
You are going to read an article about how modern companies are motivating their staff. Answer the
questions below with the ideas from Exercise 1.
1. Which idea does The Times newspaper use to motivate staff?
2. Which idea does Tatler use to increase productivity?
3. What do companies need Aroma Co for?
4. Which device motivates staff and also has health benefits?
5. What does Google offer to motivate staff?
Bosses are inventing surprising ways of
making us work harder.
The special devices that companies use to motivate staff Adapted from The Independent, by
Gillian Orr, 27 August 2014
1 Journalists at the UK's `The Times' newspaper performance, according to the University of
received a surprise this week when the noise of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. But
old-fashioned typewriters was heard in the after all that walking, workers are certainly going
newspaper's new offices. But it's not just to want to lie down. However, research suggests
nostalgia that has inspired this. It is suggested that bosses should encourage them to rest.
that the extra noise will increase energy levels and Although it might seem like a bad idea, a short
help reporters to meet deadlines. nap is an excellent way to motivate employees.
2 We shouldn't be surprised. Offices these days are 6 Silicon Valley is leading the workplace revolution.
filled with little devices designed to motivate staff. With their slides, games rooms, arcade machines
Another publication, Tatler, operates a clear-desk and endless free snacks (especially at Google),
policy. Sure, it may look pleasing, but according their workplaces look like adult theme parks.
to a survey by the National Association of
7 But is it all just a way to attract the best applicants
Professional Organisers, having more space on
and make sure workers rarely leave the office? Or
desks can also increase productivity by up to 30
do these machines and devices actually increase
per cent.
productivity?
3 And if an office has a very pleasant smell, then it's
8 Alison Price, a psychologist and author, believes
very possible that it's there on purpose.
that workers who enjoy their office environment
Companies such as Aroma Co regularly perfume
are likely to work harder. "It's positive psychology.
offices in order to stimulate the workforce. And
There is a lot of evidence that happy employees
the sweet smell of success? Lavender will relax
are more productive," Price says. "They are also
employees, lower stress levels and reduce
more creative, generate more sales and are less
absenteeism.
likely to take time off."
4 In-office doctors are certainly convenient and they
9 Of course, the tech industry has plenty of cash to
have also reduced the number of staff members
spend on these things. Smaller companies should
who take days off.
just remember that, according to Price, a sincere
5 Treadmill desks are becoming more popular. They "good job" from the boss is certain to boost an
offer lots of health benefits and also boost job employee's productivity.
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You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex
Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
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Linguahouse.com OC
P H OT
lingua house
TM
Motivation
Innovation in Learning
A A A A BUSINESS ISSUES
4 Phrases from the text
What are the benefits of the ideas and devices mentioned in the article? Complete the phrases below
with the infinitive form of verbs from the text:
1. increase energy levels (P1)
2. deadlines (P1)
3. staff (P2)
4. stress levels (P3)
5. absenteeism (P3)
6. job performance (P5)
7. the best applicants (P7)
8. more sales (P8)
5 Checking understanding
Read the rest of the article and put `T' (True) or `F' (False) next to the statements below. Explain why
the false statements are wrong.
1. Having the sound of typewriters in a modern office is only about nostalgia.
2. Having a clear desk can increase productivity by up to 50%.
3. The smell of lavender makes employees less stressed and less absent.
4. In-office doctors increase productivity.
5. Bosses should not allow employees to lie down at work.
6. Silicon Valley is changing the look of modern workplaces.
7. Employees who enjoy their workplaces do not work very hard.
8. Happy employees are more creative and make more money for the company.
9. Smaller companies can increase an employee's productivity without all these expensive devices.
6 Find the word
Find a word or phrase in the text which means:
1. nice (adjective, P2)
2. intentionally (phrase, P3)
3. give someone support or confidence (verb, P5)
4. a lot of, having no limit (adjective, P6)
5. people who apply for a job (plural noun, P7)
6. stop working temporarily because of some reason, e.g. illness (phrase, P8)
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You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex
Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
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Linguahouse.com OC
P H OT
lingua house
TM
Motivation
Innovation in Learning
A A A A BUSINESS ISSUES
7 Prediction and speculation
Various structures and verb forms are used in English to speculate about and predict things. Look at
the following sentences from the text and match them to the correct structure below.
1. Having more space on desks can also increase productivity by up to 30 per cent.
2. And if an office has a very pleasant smell, then it's very possible that it's there on purpose.
3. Workers who enjoy their office environment are likely to work harder.
4. It is suggested that the extra noise will increase energy levels and help reporters to meet deadlines.
5. But after all that walking, workers are certainly going to want to lie down.
6. A sincere "good job" from the boss is certain to boost an employee's productivity.
a. be certain to + infinitive
b. be going to + infinitive
c. be likely/unlikely to + infinitive
d. can + infinitive
e. It's possible/unlikely that ...
f. will/won't + infinitive
Complete the sentences below with a suitable word or structure from this exercise. Compare your
answers with a partner. Who is more optimistic about improving staff motivation?
1. A cup of coffee increase your energy level.
2. Allowing employees to work from home boost their motivation.
3. spending time on Facebook has a negative effect on work performance.
4. A very demanding boss make workers more productive.
5. giving employees more freedom improves their work performance.
6. Increasing workers' salaries improve their job satisfaction.
7. Giving free chocolates to staff improve their health.
8. Having a messy desk make you work harder.
9. Giving free fruit to staff improve their health.
8 Talking point
Discuss any of the following questions
1. Do you think any of these ideas would work in your company?
2. How healthy is the modern office lifestyle?
3. How do businesses typically motivate staff in your country?
4. How can companies with a low budget motivate staff?
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You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex
Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
PI
O
c
Linguahouse.com OC
P H OT
