Write these sentences, putting the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.

 

1 If you drove more carefully, you (not have) so many accidents.

If you drove more carefully, you wouldn't have so many accidents.

2If he (get up) earlier, he'd get to work on time.

If he got up earlier, he'd get to work on time.

3 If we (have) more time, I could tell you more about it.

4 If you (sell) more products, you'd earn more money.

5 I could help you if you (trust) me more.

6 His car would be a lot safer if he (buyj some new tyres.

7 The children would be better swimmers if they (go) swimming more

frequently.

8 I wouldn't mind having children if we (live) in the country.

9 If I (be) you, I wouldn't worry about going to university.

10 If I (have) any money, I'd give you some.

11 Your parents (be) a lot happier if you phoned them more often.

12 Where would you like to live if you (not live) in Paris?

13 What would you do if you suddenly (win) half a million pounds?

14 Would you mind if I (not give) you the money I owe you today?

15 If I had to go to hospital, (not go) to this one.

CONTRAST: First and second conditional

Look at these two sentences:

a) If she works harder, she'll pass her exams.

b) If she worked harder, she'd pass her exams.

The difference between the two sentences can be found by asking the question, 'Is she going to work harder?' In sentence a) the answer is, 'Maybe - and maybe not'. The answer to sentence b) is, 'Probably not'. The difference is the idea in the speaker's mind of what is going to happen. The if-event in a first conditional sentence is more likely to happen than the if-event in a second conditional.

 

2. Circle the correct answer to the questions below:

1 'If Mary found out what was happening, she'd be very angry.'

Is Mary going to find out what's happening?

A Maybe (B)Probably not

2 'If Mary finds out what's happening, she'll be very angry.'

Is Mary going to find out what's happening?

A Maybe E Probably not

3 'If they sacked him, the factory would go on strike.'

Are they going to sack him?

A Maybe B Probably not

4 'If they sack him, the factory will go on strike.'

Are they going to sack him?

A Maybe B Probably not

5 'What would you do if someone told us to leave?

Is someone going to tell us to leave?

A Maybe B Probably not

6 'What will you do if someone tells us to leave?'

Is someone going to tell us to leave?

A Maybe B Probably not

7 'If they don't agree with me, I'll go to the director.'

Are they going to agree with me?

A Maybe B Probably not

8 'If they didn't agree with me, I'd go to the director.'

Do they usually agree with me?

A Maybe B Yes C No

9 'If I don't like your ideas, I'll say so.'

Am I going to like your ideas?

A Maybe not B Probably

10 'If I didn't like your ideas, I'd say so.'

Do I usually like your ideas?

A Maybe B Yes C No

UNIT 17

 

MANAGEMENT STYLES

 

The same or different?

Do men and women bring different: qualities to business or is it nonsense to talk about male and female management styles? Mark the following management qualities:

M (man), W (woman) or M / W according to whether you think they are more typical of men, more typical of women or shared by both.

1. Being able to take the initiative.

2. Being a good listener.

3. Staying calm under pressure.

4. Being prepared to take risks.

5. Being conscientious and thorough.

6. Having good communication skills.

7. Being energetic and assertive.

8. Getting the best out of people.

9. Being independent and authoritative.

10. Being supportive towards colleagues.

11. Being able to delegate.

12. Motivating by example.

13. Having a co-operative approach.

14. Being single-minded and determined.

15. Being a good time-manager.

Now select what you consider to be the five most important qualities in any manager and prioritize them in order of importance.

1.........................

2.........................

3.........................

4.........................

5.........................

MEN and WOMEN do things differently. There are, of course, exceptions to every generalisation, including this one. Cristina Stuart is managing director of Speakeasy Training, a consultancy that runs courses for men and women working together. Here she describes a few key differences between the sexes in the workplace.

Working together

The male approach to business is competitive, direct and confrontational. The end justifies the means.[2]Personal status and a focus on the individual are important.

The female method is collaborative, collective action and responsibility are more important than personal achievement. Lateral thinking[3], as well goodwill and the well-being of the individual, are also of great importance.

Taking problems

The male approach is to go to the heart of the problem, without taking into account secondary consideration. The female preference is to look at various options.

Body language

Male body language tends to be challenging. Female body language tends towards self-protection. A stereotypical female pose is sitting cross-legged; the male sits with legs apart to give an impression that he is in control.

Male behaviour can include forceful gestures for example banging a fist on the desk for effect. The female style does not usually include aggressive gestures

Language

The male way of speaking does not encourage discussion. Women tend to welcome other's opinions and contributions more.

Conversation

Men like to talk about their personal experiences and achievements or discuss 'masculine' topics such as cars or sport. Women tend to talk about staff problems and personal

Meetings

If woman does not copy the male confrontational style, she is often ignored.

Self-promotion

Men find it easy to tell others about their successes. Women tend to share or pass on the credit for a success.

Humour

Men's humour can be cruel — a man's joke usually has a victim. Female humour is less hurtful. A woman often jokes against herself.

Caveat (warning)

Many men have a female style of working. Equally many women have a male approach, as Ms Stuart says.

Discuss

Does your choice indicate a male- or female-oriented view of management ability? Is it a fairly balanced view or rather heavily biased? Which of these qualities do you think you possess yourself? How do your views compare with those expressed in the article, She's the Boss?

 

She is the Boss

Business was invented by men and to a certain extent it is still «a boy's game». Less than 20 % of the managers in most European companies are women, with fewer still in senior positions.

Yet in Britain one in three new businesses are started up by women and according to John Naisbitt and Patricia Auburdene, authors of Megatrends 2000', since 1980 the number of self-employed women has increased twice as fast as the number of self-employed men.

the glass ceiling syndrome

Is it just a case of women whose career progress has been blocked by their male colleagues — the so-called 'glass ceiling syndrome' — being forced to set up their own businesses? Or do women share specific management qualities which somehow serve them better in self-employment? As many as 40 % of start-ups fold within their first two years, but the failure rate of those run by women is substantially lower than that. It's hardly surprising, therefore, that though male bosses tend to be reluctant to promote women, male bank managers seem only too happy to finance their businesses.

The Roddick Phenomenon

Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop empire, is the perfect example of the female entrepreneur with her company growing from zero to £ 470 million in its first fifteen years. Perhaps the secret of her success was caution. Rather than push ahead with the purchasing of new shops, Roddick got herself into franchising — the cheapest way to expand a business whilst keeping overheads down. Caution, forward planning and tight, budgeting seem to be more female characteristics than male. They are also the blueprint for success when launching a new company.

More Sensitive

When women join an existing company, it's a different story. Less ruthlessly individualistic in their approach to business, women are more sensitive to the feelings of the group or team in which they work. They are generally more cooperative than competitive, less assertive, less prepared to lead from the front. Though they usually manage their time better than men and may even work harder, they are much less likely than their male counterparts to take risks. And, above all, it is risk-taking that makes corporate high fliers. As one male director put it: «I'm not paid to make the right decisions. I'm just paid to make decisions».

Better Communicators

It's an overgeneralization. of course, but it remains true that men will more readily take the initiative than women. The female style of management leans towards consensus and conciliation. Women seem to be better communicators than men — both more articulate and better listeners. And perhaps it is women's capacity to listen which makes them particularly effective in people-oriented areas of business. In any mixed group of business people the ones doing most of the talking will almost certainly be the men. But perhaps only the women will really be listening.

The New Achievers

And, as companies change from large hierarchical structures to smaller more flexible organizations, the communication skills and supportive approach of women are likely to become more valued. It was predominantly men who profited from 'the materialistic 80s', the age of the achiever. But it will be women who achieve the most in 'the caring 90 s' and beyond.