The Art of the Milestone Update
Grammar: Discourse markers and connectors for structured reporting
A Business English English lesson exploring business.
What's in this lesson
A Business English ESL lesson on business, practising discourse markers and connectors for structured reporting. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary and discussion questions.
From the reading: The Art of the Milestone Update
In March 2023, the sustainability team at Unilever faced a problem that has nothing to do with carbon footprints or supply chains. Their quarterly update to the board ran for forty-seven minutes, covered sixty-two slides, and — according to one board member who spoke to the Financial Times — left the room more confused than when it started. The project was on track. The communication was not. Unilever is not alone: across industries, the ability to deliver a clear, structured milestone update has become one of the most undervalued skills in professional life.
Vocabulary
- break down
- flag up
- pull together
- set out
- circle back
- move the needle
- on the radar
- pass the buck
- set the bar
Discussion questions
- How do you decide what to leave out of an update?
- What makes a bad progress report feel so painful to sit through?
- Do you think being clear is the same as being brief?
The Art of the Milestone Update
Grammar: Discourse markers and connectors for structured reporting
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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