What is agile working? - Business English

Summary

This video discusses the importance of agile work in the modern business environment, emphasizing flexibility and efficiency over speed. It highlights the shift from traditional 9-to-5 schedules to a smarter work approach, addressing the need for a better work-life balance. The video also introduces phrasal verbs, using 'burn out' as an example to caution against overworking.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Agile work is not just about speed but also about flexibility and efficiency.
• 🕒 The traditional 9 to 5 work schedule is shifting towards more flexible working hours.
• 🔧 Adjusting work schedules to accommodate meetings with international clients can be managed by altering personal work hours.
• 📅 Employees are expected to handle work-related communications even outside of typical working hours.
• 🤔 The need to work smarter, not just harder, is emphasized to maintain productivity and avoid burnout.
• 🔥 The concept of 'burning out' is introduced, highlighting the risk of overworking oneself.
• 📚 The importance of finding a good work-life balance is stressed as a crucial aspect of modern work culture.
• 📱 Personal devices are increasingly used for work-related tasks, blurring the lines between personal and professional time.
• 🌐 International collaboration requires flexibility in scheduling to accommodate different time zones.
• 📈 The video encourages viewers to subscribe for more content on business English and related topics.
• 🔎 Additional resources on conflict management and interview tips are available for those interested in further learning.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is agile work, focusing on the changes in working environments and the importance of flexibility and efficiency in the workplace.

What is a common misconception about agile work?

A common misconception is that agile work is solely about working quickly. However, it also emphasizes flexibility and efficiency.

What is the traditional 9 to 5 work schedule mentioned in the video?

The traditional 9 to 5 work schedule refers to working from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Friday, for a total of 40 hours per week.

How has the shift from the traditional 9 to 5 work schedule impacted employees?

The shift has led to employees dealing with emails and phone calls from personal devices, and communicating with clients or colleagues outside of normal working hours, necessitating a smarter way of working.

What is the suggested approach to handling meetings that are rescheduled outside of typical working hours?

The suggested approach is to adjust personal schedules, such as coming in an hour later the next day or taking an extra hour at lunch, to accommodate the meeting.

What is the significance of working smarter, not just harder, as mentioned in the video?

Working smarter emphasizes the need for efficiency and effectiveness in the workplace, rather than merely putting in more hours or appearing busy.

What is the meaning of the phrasal verb 'to burn out' as used in the video?

The phrasal verb 'to burn out' means to overwork oneself to the point of exhaustion.

Why is it important to find and create a good work-life balance according to the video?

Finding and creating a good work-life balance is crucial to prevent overwork and burnout, ensuring overall well-being and productivity.

What advice does the video give on how not to burn out?

The video advises not to overwork oneself and to maintain a balance between work and personal life to avoid burnout.

What is the video's suggestion for dealing with the new demands of work in a more agile environment?

The video suggests being flexible with work schedules, adjusting personal time to accommodate meetings, and focusing on working smarter to meet the new demands of work in an agile environment.

How can viewers continue to learn more about business English and related topics from the series?

Viewers can subscribe to the channel and follow the series for more content on business English, conflict management, interview tips, and other related topics.

Outlines

00:00

🔄 Agile Work and Overcoming Traditional Work Hours

This paragraph introduces the concept of agile work, emphasizing that it is not just about speed but also about flexibility and efficiency. The script discusses the shift away from the traditional 9 to 5 work schedule and the need to adapt to working outside of these hours due to modern communication demands. It also highlights the importance of working smarter, not harder, and avoiding burnout by adjusting work schedules to accommodate meetings at unconventional hours, such as a 6pm meeting with American clients.

Keywords

💡Agile work

Agile work refers to a flexible and efficient approach to working that is not confined to traditional 9-to-5 schedules. It emphasizes adaptability and responsiveness to changes, which is a key theme in the video. For example, when the American clients push back a meeting to 6pm, the speaker demonstrates agility by adjusting their schedule to accommodate the change without compromising their work-life balance.

💡Flexibility

Flexibility in the context of the video means the ability to adjust one's work schedule or methods to suit different needs or situations. It is a core aspect of agile work, allowing individuals to manage their time more effectively. The script illustrates this when discussing the possibility of coming in an hour later or taking an extra hour at lunch to attend a meeting.

💡Efficiency

Efficiency in this video is about working in a way that maximizes productivity while minimizing wasted effort or time. It is a key component of agile work, as it allows for better work-life balance without sacrificing output. The script mentions efficiency to contrast the traditional focus on being 'busy' with the modern emphasis on achieving more with less time.

💡9 to 5

The term '9 to 5' traditionally refers to the standard full-time work schedule, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. The video discusses a shift away from this model, suggesting that agile work allows for different working hours that can better suit individual and business needs.

💡Work-life balance

Work-life balance is the equilibrium between an individual's work responsibilities and personal life. The video stresses the importance of finding this balance as part of an agile working rhythm, which is crucial for preventing burnout and maintaining overall well-being. The script encourages viewers to work smarter, not harder, to achieve this balance.

💡Burn out

To 'burn out' means to become physically or emotionally exhausted, often as a result of overwork. The video uses the phrasal verb 'burn out' to caution against the negative effects of not maintaining a good work-life balance, emphasizing the need to avoid overworking oneself.

💡Phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs, also known as multi-word verbs, are verbs that take on a different meaning when a preposition or particle is added to them. In the video, 'burn out' is an example of a phrasal verb, illustrating how language can be used to convey complex ideas related to work and well-being.

💡Personal devices

Personal devices in the script refer to individual smartphones, tablets, or laptops that employees use to handle work-related communications outside of traditional working hours. This reflects the modern trend of being 'always on' and the blurring of lines between work and personal time.

💡Communication

Communication in the video pertains to the exchange of information between employees, clients, or colleagues. It is highlighted as an ongoing process that extends beyond the typical workday, facilitated by personal devices, and is an integral part of the agile work environment.

💡Smarter, not harder

The phrase 'working smarter, not harder' suggests that it is more effective to improve work methods and efficiency rather than simply increasing the amount of time or effort expended. The video uses this concept to advocate for a more thoughtful approach to work that aligns with the principles of agile working.

💡Subscribe

In the context of the video, 'subscribe' refers to the action of signing up to receive regular content updates from a channel or service. The script encourages viewers to subscribe to the channel for more content on topics like agile work, conflict management, and interview tips, indicating the channel's focus on professional development.

Highlights

Agility in work is not just about speed but also about flexibility and efficiency.

Agile working rhythm involves adjusting schedules to accommodate client needs.

Employees can adjust their work hours to attend meetings outside of typical office hours.

The traditional 9 to 5 work schedule is shifting towards a more flexible approach.

Workers are expected to handle work-related communications outside of standard working hours.

The need to work smarter, not just harder, is emphasized in the context of agile work.

Balancing work and personal life is crucial in maintaining productivity and preventing burnout.

The concept of being a model employee is evolving to include flexibility and responsiveness.

Employees are encouraged to find a good work-life balance in the agile working environment.

The importance of managing one's time effectively is highlighted in agile work practices.

The video discusses the use of phrasal verbs in business English, such as 'to burn out'.

Phrasal verbs can significantly change the meaning of a verb in business communication.

The video provides examples of how to use phrasal verbs in a business context.

The series aims to help viewers improve their business English skills through various topics.

Subscribers can access the full series and other content on conflict management and interview tips.

The video encourages viewers to engage with the series for a comprehensive understanding of business English.

Transcripts

Hi guys,

You are on the English Online  Business English series. 

Now, I know some of us have seen some  massive changes to our working environments  

over the past two years, and that’s why  today we are talking about agile work.

Now, there is a common misconception that agility is about speed. 

Agile work is not only about working  quickly but also about flexibility and  

more importantly about efficiency. Today, we are looking at having an  

agile working rhythm. That is not: 

Our American clients have  pushed back that meeting,  

we’re going to have it at 6pm tonight if that’s  okay with you? Sorry, I’m working from 9 till 5,  

I won’t be in the office at 6 today.

But looks something a little bit more like this.

Our American clients have  pushed back that meeting,  

we’re going to have it at 6pm  tonight if that’s okay with you? 

Yeah, that’s no problem, I’ll come in an hour  later tomorrow, or I might take an extra hour  

at lunch and go to that bookshop. But yeah, tonight at 6 is fine.

There has been a shift away from that typical 9  to 5, Monday to Friday where five days a week,  

8 hours a day, being on time and making sure that  you looked busy is what made you a model employee.  

But now, we deal with emails and phone calls, from  our personal devices. Communicate with clients or  

colleagues outside of those normal working hours. So, what should we do? 

We need to be working smarter, not just harder. Today at 6? Should be no problem. 

Don’t burn yourself out. Let’s stop for a quick break  

there guys, I want to break down the language.

Today we’re looking at phrasal verbs, also known as multi-word verbs. 

This is when you have a verb and you add a particle or two particles in some  

cases and this changes the meaning of the verb. Today we looked at the verb 'to burn',  

added the preposition 'out', 'to burn out'. This means to overwork yourself  

and become exhausted. Don't burn yourself out!

So what is important from today’s video guys? 

It’s really crucial that we begin to find and create a good work life balance. 

I hope you enjoyed our short video today. If you’re interested in following along with 

the rest of our series then please subscribe to  our channel by clicking on the button below. 

If you haven’t already seen  some of the other great content  

on things like conflict management or interview  tips, then you can click on the link you see here,  

and that will take you straight to it. 

Thanks for watching guys,  I will see you next time.