Problem-solving at work: discussing solutions and reaching agreements
1
Think about these questions before reading. Share your ideas with a partner.
- Think about a small problem you faced at work or in your studies. What was the problem and what was the first step you took to solve it?
- Do you prefer to solve problems alone or with a team? Why?
- What makes a good solution to a workplace problem? Think about things like cost, time, and how it affects other people.
2
Solving a Problem at Work
Listen to the dialogue. Notice how the vocabulary and grammar from the lesson are used.
3
Answer these questions based on the dialogue you just heard.
01What is the problem that Emma and Marco are trying to solve in the dialogue?
Sample answerThe weekly report was sent out with the wrong data.
02What is Marco's first suggestion to fix the problem?
Sample answerHe suggests sending a new email with the correct report to everyone.
03Why does Emma disagree with Marco's first idea?
Sample answerShe is concerned that sending another email might confuse people.
04What is the final solution they agree on?
Sample answerThey decide to replace the old report on the server and post a quick message in the team chat.
4
Key vocabulary for problem-solving
Vocabulary
These expressions will help you discuss problems and solutions more effectively at work.
Examples
Come up with (an idea/a solution) — to think of or suggest a plan, idea, or solution.
This is a common phrasal verb used in both formal and informal conversations. You can 'come up with a plan,' 'come up with a suggestion,' or 'come up with a new way' to do something.
Weigh the pros and cons — to consider the advantages (pros) and disadvantages (cons) of something before making a decision.
Use this phrase when you are carefully thinking about different options. For example: 'Before we decide, let's weigh the pros and cons of each solution.'
Find a workaround — to find a way to solve a problem, often by avoiding the main difficulty instead of fixing it directly.
This is useful when a system or process isn't working perfectly. A workaround is often a temporary fix. For example: 'The software is buggy, but we found a workaround to export the data.'
Get to the bottom of (a problem) — to discover the real cause of a problem by investigating it fully.
This phrase suggests a deep investigation. You use it when you don't just want a quick fix, but you want to understand the root cause. For example: 'We need to get to the bottom of why these delays keep happening.'
Reach a consensus — to arrive at an agreement that everyone in a group accepts.
This is common in meetings and group discussions. It suggests that everyone generally agrees with the final decision. For example: 'After a long discussion, the team reached a consensus on the new plan.'
5
Problem-solving vocabulary
Learn some new words and phrases for talking about problems at work.
Match each word or phrase with its correct definition.
Drag or click to match
Definitions
6
Grammar: The past simple passive
Grammar
We use the past simple passive to talk about past actions when the person who did the action is unknown or not important. In a work context, this is useful for focusing on a problem or a solution itself, rather than on who is responsible. It is formed with 'was' or 'were' + the past participle of the verb.
Examples
The project deadline was missed last week.
The focus is on the fact that the deadline was missed, not on who missed it.
Several good suggestions were made during the meeting.
We use 'were' because 'suggestions' is plural. The important information is the suggestions, not who made them.
The new office policy was announced by email yesterday.
If we want to say who did the action, we can add 'by' + the person/group.
Key points
- Form: subject + was/were + past participle.
- Use 'was' for singular subjects and 'were' for plural subjects.
- Common mistake: Forgetting to use the past participle form of the verb (e.g., 'The report was wrote' instead of 'The report was written').
7
Find the mistake
Each sentence contains one error. Find and correct it.
01The new project schedule was make by the team last week.
Corrected version
The new project schedule was make made by the team last week.
02Our department needs to come up to a better solution for this issue.
Corrected version
Our department needs to come up to with a better solution for this issue.
03Several interesting proposals was suggested during the brainstorming session.
Corrected version
Several interesting proposals was were suggested during the brainstorming session.
04It was a very produce meeting; we solved three major problems.
Corrected version
It was a very produce productive meeting; we solved three major problems.
05Let's investigate further to get to the bottom for this technical glitch.
Corrected version
Let's investigate further to get to the bottom for of this technical glitch.
06After a long discussion, the team finally reached a consensos.
Corrected version
After a long discussion, the team finally reached a consensos. consensus.
07Before we make a final decision, we should weigh a pros and cons of each option.
Corrected version
Before we make a final decision, we should weigh a the pros and cons of each option.
8
Useful phrases: Suggesting solutions in a meeting
Vocabulary
In any problem-solving meeting, you need to do more than just listen. Use these phrases to confidently share your ideas, respond to others, and help the team move forward towards a solution.
Examples
How about we try... [verb-ing]? — use this to make a suggestion in a collaborative, open way.
Register: Neutral. This is a softer, more inclusive alternative to saying 'We should...'.
That sounds like a solid plan. — use this to show strong agreement and support for a colleague's suggestion.
Register: Neutral. 'Solid' means well-thought-out and reliable. It's a positive and encouraging response.
I see your point, but have we considered... [the alternative]? — use this to politely disagree or introduce a different perspective.
Register: Neutral/Formal. This phrase is very useful because it shows you were listening before you present your own idea.
Could you walk me through how that would work? — use this to ask for more details about a proposed solution.
Register: Neutral/Formal. This is more polite and professional than asking 'How does that work?' or 'Explain that'.
Building on that idea, we could also... — use this to add to or expand on something a colleague has just said.
Register: Neutral. This shows you are an active listener and want to collaborate to find the best solution.
So, are we all on the same page with this? — use this to check if everyone in the group understands and agrees with a decision.
Register: Neutral/Informal. This is a common idiomatic phrase to confirm consensus before ending the discussion on a point.
9
Complete the sentences with words from the box. One word is extra.
Word bank
01After a two-hour meeting, the team finally reached a and agreed on the next steps.
02The booking system is down, but we found a temporary using a shared spreadsheet.
03It's important to all the options carefully before making a final decision.
04We need to investigate these customer complaints and get to the of the issue.
05Once the plan is approved by management, we can start to the changes next month.
10
A case study in problem-solving
Read the article below, then answer the comprehension questions.
Last quarter, the logistics company QuickShip faced a serious challenge: customer complaints about late deliveries were increasing. To get to the bottom of the problem, a special task force was created. In their first meeting, several ideas were proposed by different departments. The operations team wanted to hire more drivers, while the tech department suggested a new, expensive software. The team spent a full day trying to weigh the pros and cons of each option.
It was clear that a quick fix was needed while they decided on a long-term plan. A clever workaround was found by the IT team, which reorganized the existing delivery schedules. This bought them some time. After several more discussions, a consensus was reached. Instead of the expensive software, a new, more efficient routing system was developed in-house. The system was implemented last month, and delivery times have already improved.
01What was the main issue QuickShip was dealing with?
Sample answerThey were receiving an increasing number of customer complaints about late deliveries.
02What did the team do before choosing a final solution?
Sample answerThey weighed the pros and cons of the different ideas that were proposed.
03According to the article, what immediate action was taken to solve the problem temporarily?
Sample answerA workaround was found by the IT team; they reorganized the existing delivery schedules.
04Why do you think the company decided not to buy the new software?
Sample answerThe article mentions the software was 'expensive', so the company likely decided it was not a good use of their budget or they couldn't afford it.
11
Discuss these questions with a partner. Try to use vocabulary from the lesson.
- Is it always better to 'get to the bottom of a problem', or is it sometimes smarter to just 'find a workaround'? Explain your reasoning.
- In your country's work culture, how important is it for a team to 'reach a consensus'? Or is it more common for a manager to listen to opinions and then make the final decision alone?
- When a team needs to 'come up with' a new solution, some people prefer brainstorming together immediately, while others prefer to think individually first. Which approach do you think is more productive and why?