Are You Boss Material? reading

What qualities do you think you need to get to the top in business?

1/3

Read the first part of the article and find out how the way you wrote the ‘E’ affects your chances of being the boss.

B

The Times October 2015

Have YOU got what it takes to be the boss? Have you ever wondered if you’ve got what it takes to get to the top in business? Forget trying to work your way up the ladder - just draw an ‘E’ on your forehead.

American professors Adam Galinsky and Maurice Schweitzer have devised the five-second ‘E’ trick, which they believe separates those who are boss material from

those who aren’t. The experiment involves

participants tracing the capital letter ‘E’ on their forehead. Those who write it so it makes sense to themselves are said to be self-orientated - a trait common in powerful figures.

Galinsky and Schweitzer, who both attended and lecture at prestigious business schools in the US, have published their findings in new business book, Friend & Foe: When To Cooperate, When To Compete, And How To Succeed At Both.

To conduct the easy test, participants should trace the capital letter ‘E’ on their foreheads, using their finger, without thinking about it.

There are two options: the letter can be written so it makes sense only to themselves (but reversed for onlookers), or so it would appear the right way around to others.

The tendency to write an ‘E-to-self’ is said to dramatically increase the more senior role held in the workplace.

Schweitzer, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said the trick has captured people’s attention because it is ‘quite dramatic’.

In order to prove that the test works, he tried it out on the publishing team at Random House while pitching the idea of his new business book. The results supported his claims.

He said: ‘It happened to work perfectly. The senior editors were the ones who were self-focused.’

Without thinking about it, trace the capital letter ‘E’ on your forehead using your finger. Remember how you wrote it.

Discuss the following questions and then read the second part of the article and check your ideas.

B

1 How are women most likely to write the ‘E’ and what do the authors of the book put this down to?2 In another test, the authors randomly assigned people the role of boss or employee. They then gave them the chance to buy chocolates for themselves or others. Did the bosses or the employees buy more chocolates for others?3 What do you think the authors say is the single biggest mistake they see leaders making?

Are You Boss Material? reading

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According to the research, there is a gender imbalance in results with women much more likely to ‘E-to-others’.

This shows they are more likely to take into account other people’s perspectives.

However, according to the

authors, this is because women generally have ‘less power’, and that if they were given the same amount of power, the gender differences would be erased.

In another test the authors randomly assigned people the role of boss or employee.

They then gave them the chance to buy chocolates for themselves or others.

The bosses became the Scrooge, buying an average of 32 chocolates for themselves and only 11 for others.

Lowly employees were far more generous, with the ratios

reversed. In conclusion, to succeed in

business you need to sharpen your claws and not be a likeable pushover.

However, social psychologist Galinsky says that while the powerful must be more decisive ‘the single biggest mistake I see leaders make is this idea that considering other people’s perspectives is a sign of weakness’.

He added that this is ‘simply not true’ and ‘is a sign of strength’ as senior people can exert authority, but also consider other’s feelings.

Do you agree with the conclusion “To succeed in business you need to sharpen your claws and not be a likeable pushover.”? What do you think is the single biggest mistake that leaders make?

b

Complete the gaps in these extracts from the article using the definitions in brackets as clues.1 Have you ever ____________________ (think about something because you want to know more facts or details about it) if you’ve got what it takes to get to the top in business? 2 American professors Adam Galinsky and Maurice Schweitzer have ________________ (invent; design) the five-second ‘E’ trick…3 Those who write it so it makes sense to themselves are said to be self-orientated - a ____________ (characteristic; quality) common in powerful figures.4 Galinsky and Schweitzer, who both attended and lecture at __________________ (having a very good reputation) business schools…5 The tendency to write an ‘E-to-self’ is said to dramatically increase the more senior role held in the __________________________ (a building, room, etc. where people perform their jobs).6 This shows they are more likely to take into account other people’s ____________________ (a way of thinking about something; point of view). 7 In conclusion, to succeed in business you need to sharpen your claws and not be a likeable ___________________ (someone who is easy to influence or persuade, or an opponent who is easy to defeat).

V

Complete the gaps in the following sentences with the correct form of the words studied.

V

EWhat do the highlighted expressions in these extracts from the article mean?

The Times October 2015

Those who write it so it makes sense to themselves are said to be self-orientated......the single biggest mistake I see leaders make...

make an example of

1 His best ________________ is his kindness. He is always ready to help people.2 From my _____________________ Harvard is the most ____________________ university in the world.3 Good luck negotiating with Sue. She is no ____________________. It is going to be difficult.4 Our boss __________________ a system that means we don’t have to be in the _______________________ all the time. We can work from home some days.5 Sometimes I _________________ what it would be like to win the lottery and not have to work again.

Are You Boss Material? reading

1 The judge ____________________________ the defendant and gave him the maximum sentence.2 The plumber ______________________ changing the tap. It took him a very long time.3 John ______________________ the accident, but it was quite serious.

There are a number of other expressions with make that you might want to learn. Complete the gaps below with these words to form the expressions defined:

V

hash example light meal most sure

1 make a/n ____________ of to make a task more difficult than it really is

2 make ____________ of to make seem less serious

3 make a/n ____________ of to punish as a warning to others

4 make a/n ____________ of to do badly

5 make ____________ to be or become absolutely certain

6 make the _________ of to use to the greatest advantage

Complete these sentences using the expressions above:V

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4 ____________________ you call me when you arrive home. I want to know you have got back safely. 5 You should __________________________ the opportunity. Chances like that don’t come along every day.6 The builder _______________________ the paintwork and it had to be done again.

Are You Boss Material?intermediate+ (B1+)

week of 12.10.15

reading

student pages 3Teacher’s notes 1

Complete the gaps in these extracts from the article using the definitions in brackets as clues.1 wondered 2 devised 3 trait4 prestigious 5 workplace6 perspectives7 pushover

V

Complete the gaps in the following sentences with the correct form of the words studied.

V

1 trait2 perspective / prestigious3 pushover4 devised / workplace5 wonder

EWhat do the highlighted expressions in these extracts from the article mean?

make sense = be coherent or intelligiblemake a mistake = commit an error

There are a number of other expressions with make that you might want to learn. Complete the gaps below with these words to form the expressions defined:

V

1 meal2 light3 example 4 hash 5 sure6 most

1 made an example of2 made a meal of3 made light of4 make sure5 make the most of6 made a hash of

Complete these sentences using the expressions above:V