Playing Office Politics
A B2 practice pack following a video lesson on office politics, in which learners map their workplace networks, rewrite a pushy email, role-play a no-agenda check-in and a feedback conversation, and weigh when to step in. Suits managers and professionals who want to build influence and relationships at work.
Print-ready A4 PDF · teacher's notes and answer key included
What's inside
- Discussion
- Quick debate
- Network mapping
- Email rewriting
- Language swaps
- Role-play
- Self-assessment checklist
- Situation-response task
- Homework log
By the end, learners can
- Map operational, strategic and developmental networks and plan a way into the weakest one
- Rewrite a blunt request email using polite, relationship-building language
- Hold a check-in call that asks for nothing, using steps for opening, listening and closing
- Ask for and respond to honest feedback on how they come across
- Justify whether to build allies, speak up or keep their head down in workplace situations
Skills: Speaking · Writing · Reading · Vocabulary
Suits: Managers · Team leaders · Project managers · Professionals in cross-team or international roles
Language practised: Making polite requests · Offering something in return · Opening a call warmly · Asking about someone's priorities · Showing understanding and sympathy · Sharing useful information · Asking for and receiving feedback · Giving reasons for a choice · Comparing ways of working · Weighing options
Pairs with
Lesson 5: Playing Office Politics →
Teach the lesson first. The pack builds on the video your learner has just watched.
1 · Teach the lesson
Run the video lesson as usual.
2 · Run the pack
Two 60-minute sessions over the following week.
3 · Report back
Open the next lesson with the homework.
Teach it tomorrow.
Members get the complete practice pack, with teacher’s notes and answer key, plus all 91 lessons in the library, with new lessons added every month.
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