Topic 1.6.3 Dealing with Risk
COMMUNICATION SKILLS - DEALING WITH RISK
Warm up
1.Look at the following quotations. Which do you agree or disagree with? Why?
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. – Benjamin Franklin (one of the U.S.A. Founding Fathers)
Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing. – Warren Buffet (American businessman investor and philanthropist)
Preparedness is the ultimate confidence builder. – Vince Lombardi (American football coach)
Life is more risk management than exclusion of risks. – Walter Wriston (Banker)
Take risks. If you win, you will be happy. If you lose, you will be wise. – Anonymous
2.Which of these options best describes your attitude when you make a plan?
I try to imagine – and prepare for – every possible outcome.
I think of as many possible problems as I can and prepare for most of them.
I consider the most likely problems I might have and prepare for those.
I try to have a Plan B, just in case.
I assume things will go as expected, so I don’t worry at all.
Video
3.Prisha Patel, who is the Creative Director at the company Happenings, receives a call from her client.
4.Look at the following options as to what Prisha and David should consider regarding the new client. Give reasons for your answers. As a class, decide which video to watch first.
Option A – A risk-tolerant approach: Take on the event and deal with any problems as they arise.
Option B – A risk-sensitive approach: Consider all possible problems before deciding to take on the event or not.
Watch the videos in the order the class has decided and answer the following questions for each video.
Option A
Option B
5.What is the effect of using:
1.a) a risk-tolerant approach?
2.b) a risk-sensitive approach?
In pairs discuss which approach you think was most effective in responding to Prisha’s concerns. Give reasons and examples.
6.Watch the Conclusions section of the video and compare what is said with your answers. Do you agree? Why/Why not?
7.Think about the following questions. Then discuss the answer with your partner.
How do you think you would have managed in this particular situation?
Which of the two approaches to risk would you prefer in a similar situation?
8.Functional language -Talking about risk
Activity A – risk-tolerant attitude.
Activity B – risk-sensitive attitude.
Task
Work in pairs. You are colleagues at a company of 500 employees. You have been planning the company’s annual picnic, which will take place next weekend. Read the checklist. Can you think of any other arrangements you need to make, or problems you should prepare for?
Read some local news stories then tell your partner about what you’ve read.
Student A news stories
LOCAL UFO EXPERT PREDICTS ALIEN INVASION NEXT WEEKEND Local space enthusiast Lee Kim says that, according to his calculations, there’s an 80 percent chance that aliens will visit this area next weekend. He’s reported his concerns to the police, who promise to be standing by. They’ve encouraged Mr Kim and any others who have concerns to go about their usual business, but remain vigilant.
WEATHER NEWS: 50% CHANCE OF EXTREME HEAT NEXT WEEKEND Our usual mild weather for the season may come to an end next weekend. Weather forecasters warn that unusual conditions may cause dangerously hot weather all weekend. However, because of unstable weather to the north, it’s almost impossible to say with any certainty this far ahead what might happen.
Student B news stories
POSSIBLE INDUSTRIAL ACTION City council employees, in a pay dispute, are threatening to refuse to work next weekend. Though most office workers have a Monday-to-Friday working week, workers in the Parks and Recreation Department frequently work weekends. This may mean trouble for anyone with a party or other event scheduled at a local park.
AIR SHOW NEXT WEEKEND Litchworth Airfield will host its annual open day and air show next weekend. Visitors to the event will see a variety of planes both on the ground and in the air. Organisers warn that some of the flights may cause increased noise at local country parks, pointing out that the event – including the flyovers – has been fully approved by the local council.
Continue your meeting. Decide if you need to make any further preparations for the picnic.
Student A, take a risk-tolerant position. Student B, take a risk-sensitive position. Use phrases from the exercises above to help you. Discuss possible courses of action.