BE 367: How to Get Advice from a Senior Colleague in English
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This is the Business English Podcast, Episode 367. How to get advice from a senior colleague in English.

Welcome to the Business English podcast from All Ears English. Get the English skills you need to achieve your dreams in global business. For a presentation, a meeting, or your office party, this is Real Business English with your favorite American hosts, Lindsay and Michelle, coming to you from New York City and Colorado, USA.

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Hello, Michelle. How are you today? I'm good. How are you? I am feeling really good. But what are we getting into today on Business English? Well, Lindsay, when you were a teacher, when you were working in a school, were there any other senior teachers that you learned from? For sure. I remember when I started my job in Japan, there was a senior native teacher. Shannon was her name. She was from Canada. And the way our company works is I took her place.

So when I came in, she kind of trained me a little bit. I took her life basically. It's so weird. They assign you in these schools in Japan working for the company I worked for. They basically put you in that teacher's apartment, in that teacher's school. And so you basically like replace them completely. It's so crazy. So yeah, she was a bit of a mentor for a few weeks, my first month or so. Yeah. That's good. That's good. Yeah. It's good to have a mentor. Today,

Today we are going to talk about the important connection skill of speaking with people who have been at a company much longer than you have. Especially if you're pretty new to the job. This is really important. Yeah, this is really important. It's an important skill when you enter a company getting to know who are the leaders, who are the people that really know what's going on, that have been there for a while and respect that.

Right? Respect their institutional knowledge and their status. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. So that's what we're talking about today. Guys, if you haven't already, please hit the follow button wherever you're listening to the Business English podcast so that you never miss anything from us. Yeah. And so why is this important, Michelle? Why are we even talking about this today on the podcast? Yeah, well, I think...

it's a sign of respect when you're asking somebody who's been at the company a long time uh when you're asking them for advice when you're asking them about the position and it shows that you you want to learn you're not there to just take over everything um yeah what do you think yeah for sure i mean so if you so we're assuming here we're coming into a company as a new person is that right is that the scenario we're talking about today yes yeah i think for sure

And this is going to be really important around the world because I know for a lot of our listeners, different cultures show actually more place, way more importance than we do on status, on how long you've been somewhere, seniority,

And so this is super important all over the world for sure. Yes, exactly. And I think it's also good for building a team rapport and showing collaboration. It's just if you're you have to show that you're curious about the people and their roles that you're working with. And we actually just did an episode of All Ears English that touches on this a little bit as well, asking someone these kinds of questions. So you could go over and listen to that one. Yes. Yeah.

All right. So what are some scenarios that we might want to talk about here?

- Okay, so this could be good. Let's say you go to a lunch with a coworker or you just have some time to chat. Maybe you're in, maybe you go out to lunch or maybe you just run into them. So, but let's talk about some things that you could ask. So one thing you could say is how did you start working here? Or you could say, when did you start working here? Or how is more about like, what's the story, right? - Right, two different questions, but also two great questions, right? And just let them kind of talk and reflect.

So for example, hey, Lindsay, so how did you start working here? Right? - Yeah. - Yeah. - Right, right, exactly. And then what about, what was X like when you started working here? So I didn't mean X like the former Twitter.

This episode is for people that work at Twitter. No. Right. No. No. So, for example, what was All Ears English like when you first started working here? Yeah. You can say when you started working here or we can also insert when you first started working here. You can do either one. Both options. Yeah. Good. Yes. Or what else could you ask? How have things changed at All Ears English, for example, over the years? So, how have things changed at Spotify over the years? Right. Mm-hmm.

Yes, good. So these are three or four really solid questions that the point is you just want to get a rapport going, get a conversation starting. You do want to get some information because as you're moving into a company, if you're new, you want to gather info, make sure this is where you want to be. Right. I think the last question, the how have things changed over the years,

I think that's a really key interesting question that I'd be curious about whenever I would start working at something somewhere new because it gives you some little bit of insight into the company, a little extra. Well, for sure. I mean, for example, nowadays, a lot of companies in the US are being purchased by private equity and originally had been small businesses and maybe got purchased by private equity vets offices.

you know, different kind of small businesses, right? And that would profoundly change a company. And you need to know that. What side of things are you on? You know, how far into that change are you? Is that coming? Is that impending? We need to know those things. Yeah, exactly. My dad works in B2B marketing. He came by my school for career day and said he was a big ROAS man. Then he told everyone how much he loved calculating his return on ad spend.

My friend's still laughing at me to this day. Not everyone gets B2B, but with LinkedIn, you'll be able to reach people who do. Get $100 credit on your next ad campaign. Go to linkedin.com slash results to claim your credit. That's linkedin.com slash results. Terms and conditions apply. LinkedIn, the place to be, to be.

Okay, Michelle, what else? Any other questions we could ask? Yes, absolutely. So here's a really good one. Now, again, you don't want to ask somebody this question if they are trying to quickly get a coffee in the employee room. You got to make sure that you're already in a conversation, you have some time, everyone's kind of getting comfortable. It's not something that you just ask someone out of nowhere, right?

Yeah, for sure. This would require much more of a like a meeting. And this person has kind of given you their time to sit down in a coffee shop. I wouldn't ask these last two questions just in passing in the company kitchen. Exactly. Exactly. So what could you say? So what advice would you give a newbie on how to succeed here?

Yeah. Yeah. Or what do you see for the future of this company? Or another way to say that is where do you think this company is headed? Good. Nice. These are good questions. Yeah.

Michelle, anything else here that we want to know? Yeah. I mean, well, what do you think, which one of these do you think would bring about the most opportunity for a full conversation? Like you have some time, you know, you really want to get to know this person. How do you think would be the best way to start it? Do any of these stand out to you or maybe something else? Yeah, I would say it's important when you ask these questions, if you're new, to remember that the answers you get are going to be heavily through the process

lens, you know, the lenses of the person leaving, right? Or the, or rather the person that's been there for a long time. Right. Right. So good point. So you, you have to be a little bit careful. Yeah. Because people, you know, everyone has their own take on their position, their job, their company, which may not have anything to do with someone new coming into the company, right? The things that they have gone through or have participated in while, uh, while being there for so many years might not be what that new person would see.

So I would just be super. And that's true. Asking advice from anyone anywhere in life, don't you think? Right. Yeah. Because everybody comes in with their full backstory and it may not be true for you what this person says. So you don't want to like, especially if it's negative. Yeah. Somebody just starts complaining. Oh, it used to be this. And now the team is so this and that. And that could really kind of ruin your.

you're excited about your new job and then you ask these questions. So just be careful what you're walking into. You know, we always want to just have our, you know, our,

just, I don't know, our ears open to what they're saying, but also realize like you have to take it with a little bit of a grain of salt. Yeah. So I think probably keeping that in mind and avoiding just getting their experience, I would say, what advice would you give a newbie on how to succeed? Could be useful, you know, coming in, you're fresh, you want to know some tips, you know, what can they share? What are some ways I can stand out at this company and do well? Um,

And with that, you might be less likely to get their story. You know, they're... True. You're asking a more removed question. However, I think if somebody does want to be negative, they're going to find...

a way to do it no matter what the question. I might say, good luck on succeeding here. You're never going to get, you know, whatever. So again, you know, just always, it's great to connect, but just realize there are a lot of disgruntled people. Yeah, that's true. Yeah. You have to, you know, keep your...

I'm trying to think of an expression, like keep your guard up maybe and realize a little bit that this could happen. If you start asking someone questions and they start complaining, maybe just say, oh, okay, thanks. And kind of just end it. Have a good sense of whether it's more about them or about the company. Ask multiple people because if you start to hear a pattern, you're hearing the same things, then you might want to pay more attention to that, right? If it's negative or if it's

positive, then that's great. You know, everyone saying this is a great place to work. Perfect. Exactly. And I think the important, the other important thing is to be genuine. So don't force this type of conversation because it's going to, people will be able to tell, and it will seem like you don't actually want to get to know the person. So it has to come about a little bit naturally when you're already, you're already kind of settling into a little bit of a relationship with this

Yeah, don't be that person that just says, give me all the information and that you want to build a genuine connection with this person for sure. Yeah. Yes, exactly. So should we show how this would look in a role play? Yeah, let's do it. All right. So here I am new to the company and you have been here for 15 years. Yes. All right. So here we go. Yes. All right. So Michelle, I've always wanted to ask you, how did you start working at OfficeList?

Oh, well, I was working at our competitors and Billy, who used to work here, ran into me and we started talking about my experience and he got me in. Wow. What was it like when you started working here? Oh, very different. The teams are totally restructured. Interesting. So how have things changed over the years?

Well, in some ways it was more social and fun. Now people keep to themselves a lot. That happened over time. I think the leadership became less supportive, but what can you do? Oh, that's too bad. I mean, where do you think the company's heading?

be fine. We just need some more people, more new people like you. It's fun to have you around. Well, thanks. Any advice for a newbie, how a newbie can succeed here? I'd say stay eager. Try things out of your comfort zone. That's the beauty of this place. Things are pretty open and you can always get creative and try something new. I think you're going to do great. Thanks so much.

Of course. Nice. Yeah. Good. Okay. Good. Yeah. So this felt like a balanced conversation. I mean, maybe there was a hint of, oh, things have changed here. A little complaining. But companies evolve over time. No company stays the same. That's the other thing we have to realize when we hear what people have to say is things always change, right? Right. Everything. We change as people, companies change. They never stay the same. So

I think this is balanced because the person was smart enough to know that they should be positive, right? Because it's not a good idea for the person that's been there for a long time to be kind of bitter and negative, right? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Exactly. So you start out out, you said, I've always wanted to ask you, how did you start working here at OfficeList? I said, I was working at a competitor's and then I got in, right? He got me in. That's a bonus phrase.

Right. He got me in. Love that. Yeah. And then, so that, what does that mean? Uh, he, so he got me a job, right? Maybe he got me an intro and then he got me into the job. Yes. Right. Exactly. So it didn't sound, it sounds like I didn't like formally apply for a job necessarily. Maybe, or maybe you did. You probably, maybe you went through the, because most companies legally they have, well, I'm not sure what the laws are around like internal, uh,

promotions or whether they have to also be accepting other applications. So you may have gone through the process, but he helped you, you know, he put in a good word for you in other words. Right. Put in a good word. What else? And you asked me, you said, what was it like when you started working here? And you said, oh, very different. The teams were totally restructured. And then I said, well, how have things changed over the years?

And I talked about that it was a little bit more social and I talked about the leadership and you said, where do you think the company is heading? And then I said, oh, we'll be fine. We just need more new people. Right. And then you, I said, you said, Michelle, or I said,

Any advice on how a newbie can succeed here? Yes, good, yes. And I said, stay eager, try things outside of your comfort zone. So good advice, right?

Yeah. Yes. Good advice. Love it. Very good. This is a huge opportunity when you enter a new company and you see there is someone who's been there for a long time, could offer a wealth of information. But I think definitely just understanding that everyone's going to have their own spin and it may not reflect actual what's really going on. Right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

I think the takeaway is take it with a grain of salt. Take it with a grain of salt. Ask the questions. Ask a lot of people, not just one person. And take it with a grain of salt. Is there another episode, Michelle, where we could go?

Yeah, guys, head on over to episode 348. That was be socially savvy with these brainstorming phrases. Nice. I mean, I think that is the takeaway right there. We did it. Yeah, we did it early. We did it backwards. Yeah, we did it backwards. Just ask the questions, get to know as many people as you can, not just people that have been there for 1015 years, but people that have been there for a few years, because they'll have a different perspective, too.

Right. Yeah, exactly. So just taking all the information and also just in some ways you want to ask, you want to get that information, but in some ways you have to experience it yourself and from your own opinion. So yeah, that's another part of it. Don't let somebody just totally dictate the way you look at the company or your position.

Exactly. All right, Michelle. Well, thanks for being on the show with me. Everyone go ahead and hit that follow button to make sure you get more business English three days a week. Right, Michelle? Yep. Absolutely. All right. Thanks for chatting with me about this today, Lindsay, and have a good one. All right. Talk soon. Bye. All right. Bye.

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