Speaking Strategies

Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation

Format

  • 60 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak.
  • A scenario describes a challenging interpersonal or professional situation.
  • Two approaches are presented: EITHER one action OR another.
  • Choose one approach and explain how you would handle it.

Strategies

1
Choose your approach during prep and plan your reasoning
Use the 60 seconds to plan 2-3 reasons for your choice and think about how you'd explain the steps you'd take.
2
Show empathy and diplomacy
"I understand this is a sensitive situation...", "I would first try to understand their perspective..." Empathetic language like this scores high on Task Fulfillment.
3
Explain step by step what you'd do
"First, I would... Then, I would... After that, I would..." A sequential approach demonstrates clear thinking.
4
Explain why your approach is better
"I believe this approach would be more effective because... compared to [the other approach] which might lead to..."

Example

Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation

You have been working on a new marketing strategy for your team. Last week, you informally shared some of your best ideas with your colleague, Sarah, during a coffee break. Today, in a team meeting with your manager David, Sarah presented your core marketing strategy as her own work and received significant praise from David.

Choose ONE of the following options. EITHER Talk to Sarah. Explain that she needs to clarify with David that the idea was originally yours. OR Talk to David. Explain that while you appreciate Sarah's presentation, the original concept was developed by you.

Strong Sample Response

Sarah, I appreciate you having a moment to talk. I want to discuss something that happened in today's team meeting, and I hope we can resolve it constructively.

I noticed that the marketing strategy you presented to David was actually very similar to the concept I had shared with you last week during our coffee break. I understand it may not have been intentional, but I felt uncomfortable when the idea was presented without any acknowledgment of our conversation.

What I would really appreciate is if you could speak with David and clarify that we collaborated on this concept, or at least that the original idea came from our discussion. I think this is important not only for fairness but also for maintaining the trust in our working relationship.

Going forward, I would love for us to continue sharing ideas, perhaps even presenting them together as a joint effort. That way, we both receive proper credit and strengthen our professional partnership.

How to apply the strategies
  • Strategy #1 (Plan your reasoning): The collaborative tone throughout shows the speaker chose reasoning and relationship-building over confrontation.
  • Strategy #2 (Empathy and diplomacy): Opens with "I appreciate you having a moment" and "I hope we can resolve it constructively."
  • Strategy #3 (Step by step): Acknowledges the issue, explains the impact, makes a specific request, then proposes a future solution.
  • Strategy #4 (Why your approach is better): Emphasizes trust and professionalism rather than blame.
Task 5
Comparing and Persuading
Task 7
Expressing Opinions

Practice Speaking Now

Apply these strategies with real CELPIP-style speaking prompts and get scored.

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