Учебно-методическое пособие для студентов минск 2010 ббк утверждено на заседании
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- 2. Read the first paragraph only
- 4. Which ideas expressed in the two articles do you agree with Do you find any of the ideas surprising
- Can you think of adjectives with opposite meanings to the ones above
Reading 21. Discuss these questions.1. Which would you prefer to work for? a) a male boss b) a female boss c) either – you don’t have a preference 2. Do you think your response to question 1 is a typical one? 3. Are there differences between men and women as leaders?
2. Read the first paragraph only of both articles. What is the main point made by the writer in each case?3. Work in pairs. One of you reads article A. The other reads article B. Summarise each paragraph in a single sentence of no more than 15 words. Then give an oral summary of the whole article to your partner.Article A Who would you rather work for? (from the Guardian) Women are more efficient and trustworthy, have a better understanding of their workforce and are more generous with their praise. In short they make the best managers, and if men are to keep up1 they will have to start learning from their female counterparts2, a report claims today. The survey of 1,000 male and female middle and senior managers from across the UK is an indictment3 of the ability of men to function as leaders in the modern workplace. A majority of those questioned believed women had a modern outlook4 on their profession and were more open-minded and considerate. By way of contrast, a similar number believe male managers are egocentric and more likely to steal credit5 for work done by others. Management Today magazine, which conducted the research, said that after years of having to adopt a masculine identity and hide their emotions and natural behaviour in the workplace, women have become role models for managers. The findings tally with6 a survey of female bosses carried out in the US. A five-year study of 2,500 managers from 450 firms found that many male bosses were rated by their staff of both sexes to be self-obsessed and autocratic. Women on the other hand leave men in the starting blocks7 when it comes to teamwork and communicating with staff. In Britain more than 61% of those surveyed said men did not make better bosses than women. Female managers use time more effectively, with many of those surveyed commenting that juggling8 commitments is a familiar practice for women with a home and a family. Female managers also appear to make good financial sense for penny-pinching9 companies: most people, of either sex, would rather ask for a rise from a man. ‘If men want to be successful at work they must behave more like women,’ said the magazine’s editor, Rufus Olins. ‘Businesses need to wake up to the fact that so-called feminine skills are vital for attracting and keeping the right people. In the past women who aspired10 to management were encouraged to be more manly. It looks now as if the boot is on the other foot11.’
How do you like your boss? Sympathetic, empowering and not too busy, probably. They will be aware of the pressures of your job, but delegate responsibility where appropriate. They will be interested in your career development. Oh, and, preferably, they will be male. In a survey for Royal Mail special delivery, a quarter of secretaries polled1 expressed a preference for a male boss. Only 7% said they would prefer a woman. The future of management may be female, but Ms High-Flier2, it seems, can expect little support from her secretary. One should not, of course, assume that all secretaries are female, but women still make up the overwhelming3 majority. So it makes uncomfortable reading for those who like to believe that a soft and cuddly4 sisterhood exists in the previously macho office environment, where women look out for5 their own. The findings also raise questions about neat predictions of a feminised future for management, where ‘womanly’ traits such as listening skills, flexibility and a more empathetic manner will become normal office currency6. Business psychologist John Nicholson is surprised by the survey’s findings, asserting that ‘the qualities valued today in a successful boss are feminine, not masculine’. He is emphatic7 that women make better bosses. ‘They listen more, are less status-conscious, conduct crisper8 meetings, are much more effective negotiators and display greater flexibility.’ They are also considerably more common than they used to be. According to information group Experian, women are no longer scarce9 in the boardroom – they occupy a third of the seats round the conference table. Women directors are still relatively uncommon in older age groups, but among young directors the proportion is growing. Anecdotal evidence suggests that a reluctance10 to work for a woman may be more a question of management style than substance. ‘It’s just women bosses’ attitude,’ says Martha, a PA for 25 years who has worked predominantly for women, including a high-profile11 politician. ‘It’s something women have that men don’t. When they are critical they are much more personal, whereas men sail through not taking a blind bit of notice12.’ Sonia Neill, a former secretary at Marks and Spencer, has experienced power struggles between women even where there was a significant disparity13 in status. ‘Women either find it awkward14 to give you work or they try to assert themselves15 by giving you really menial16 tasks. Men never do that.’ Notes: polled1 – опрошенный, high-flier2 – честолюбец, overwhelming3 – подавляющий, cuddly4 – приятный, look out for5 – присматривать, currency6 – широкая применимость, употребительность, emphatic7 – упорный, crisp8 – живой, scarce9 – редкий, дефицитный; reluctance10 – нежелание, high-profile11– выдающийся, take a blind bit of notice12 – не обращать ни малейшего внимания, disparity13 – неравенство, awkward14 – неудобный, assert oneself15 – самоутвердиться, menial16 – лакейский 4. Which ideas expressed in the two articles do you agree with? Do you find any of the ideas surprising?5. From the two texts, find as many characteristics as possible that are attributed to female and male managers.Discussion1. Which adjectives below describe positive aspects of someone’s character? Which describe negative aspects? Write + or – to each one.
Can you think of adjectives with opposite meanings to the ones above?2. What makes a great leader? Write down a list of characteristics. Compare your list with other groups.3. What makes a bad boss? Draw up a profile of factors.4. Work in groups. Read the following quotations. Do you agree with their authors? Why?
5. Using the information from Reading 2 and the vocabulary from the exercises above get ready for the discussion 'What makes a manager a good leader?' (see Speaking File pp. 223-228)жүктеу/скачать 2.22 Mb. Достарыңызбен бөлісу:
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