Reflect and Discuss

Roundtable preparation

Roundtable Discussions are live, small-group (max 4 students) conversations centering on the topics raised in the TED talk. Guided by an American business trainer with more than 35 years of professional experience, the Roundtable Discussions are designed to help you build fluency and confidence in spontaneous conversation with other advanced-level English speakers from around the world.

Read more about Roundtable Discussions >>

Prepare for the Roundtable Discussion by reflecting on the questions below. Practice answering them using vocabulary that was introduced in this lesson. You’ll get the best practice if you practice answering by speaking out loud.

The title of Matt’s TED Talk is “Why working from home is good for business.” Consider the following questions in relation to the title of the talk.

• What does Matt says regarding the advantages for companies who implement a well-designed remote working policy?
• Either from the video or from your own experience, can you give specific examples of how remote working benefits companies?

Now consider remote working from the perspective of the employee.

• How might employees benefit from a well-implemented remote working policy? Challenge yourself to come up with a complete list of potential benefits.
• How might the positive effects for employees indirectly impact the company. Be specific regarding each of the potential benefits that you came up with in the previous question.

Matt acknowledges that remote working requires careful planning and implementation.

• Can you paraphrase each of Matt’s four tips for successful implementation?
• Can you explain how each of the four tips will positively impact certain groups of employees?
• Can you explain how each of the four tips will help the company to be more efficient and effective?

Matt gave this talk in January 2019, just before the COVID 19 pandemic led to widespread social distancing and remote working practices.

• Has the reality of remote working lived up to our pre-pandemic expectations?
• How has the pandemic changed companies’ perceptions of remote working?
• How has the pandemic changed employees’ perceptions of remoted working?
• What has our recent, practical experience taught us about the realities of remote working?

What challenges have you personally experienced as a team member and/or as a team leader when working remotely? Give concrete examples.

What additional advice would you give to companies to guide them in creating a productive and balanced remote working environment? Support your advice with a real-life example.

What advice would you give to employees to help them to establish and maintain a healthy work-life balance? Support your advice with a real-life example.

Do you agree with Matt’s prediction that within 10-20 years, 90% of ground-breaking companies will be working in this way? Why or why not?