GT Reading Test 64 Section 2 - How to become a great leader & Resigning from a Job
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General Training Reading Mock Test 64:
| Section 1 | Section 2 | Section 3 |
SECTION 2: Questions 15 - 27
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 15-27, which are based on Reading Passages below.
Write answers to questions in boxes 15-27 on your answer sheet.
GT Reading Sample - "How to become a great leader" & "Resigning from a Job in a Professional Manner"
Read the text below and answer Questions 15-21.
How to become a great leader
Stepping into a new management role can be unnerving. Here’s how to inspire your team:
Set the tone of your leadership style from the outset. Be confident, self-assured, and respectful with everyone you meet. Speak as you want to be spoken to, and remember to listen. The first few weeks are when people develop their perceptions of you, so work hard to earn their trust. This will be key to effective change and progress.
Part of a leader’s brief is to set bold goals. They could take years to achieve, but they need to be specific enough that everyone in the organization understands them, buys into them, and is willing to work together to achieve them.
Don’t do everything yourself. Great leaders surround themselves with talented individuals and they should trust them to make things happen. If things need changing, tell people and involve them in making the changes by participating in the design of a new strategy. If the team is too cautious to embrace change, give them one more chance but be clearer about what you want.
Stamp out the ‘them and us’ culture. In many organizations, employees feel distant from senior management. The message must be plain: we all work together, but leaders need to work hard to ensure this filters through to everyone in the organization.
Allow time for innovation. It’s important to give staff time to come up with new ideas and solutions that will fix new problems. However, be clear that a decision is expected; set a time limit and stick to it.
It is likely that the formula that makes the business you are managing successful will have been created many years ago – but it’s important to remember how the business started. Honour those early pioneers and instil a sense of pride across the organization.
Leaders need to accept that some risk may be required if the situation calls for it. Playing it safe is never a good business rule, and leaders must make sure their business stays ahead by being prepared to act quickly.
Show you are passionate and enthusiastic. People spend a large part of their lives working for an organization, and having a leader who is genuinely thrilled about its future is hugely inspiring.
Questions 15-21
Complete the sentences below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 15-21 on your answer sheet.
15. Initially, a leader needs to focus on gaining the ............... of the staff.
16. A leader should decide on ............... that their staff are happy to fulfil.
17. Leaders should involve their staff in the process of producing a different ............... .
18. If tricky issues arise, leaders should give staff the space to find ............... to them.
19. Leaders need to encourage their staff to feel ............... in the past achievements of the company.
20. It is important for leaders to agree to a certain degree of ............... when necessary.
21. If leaders find the ............... of the company exciting, their staff will be more motivated to work hard.
Read the text below and answer Questions 22-27.
Resigning from a Job in a Professional Manner
When you take the decision to resign and move on to another job, you might really want to dance your way out of the door, or get your own back by criticising your boss to the whole office. But you need to resist these temptations because in future you might find you’re working with your ex-line manager or other colleagues in a different company.
Letting your manager know
Show courtesy by telling your boss first. Request a meeting to say that you’re leaving, following up soon after with an official letter. Before the meeting with your boss, write a list of ongoing tasks along with status updates and suggestions concerning completion.
Use the meeting to clarify any other points, such as your notice period and leaving date, and how you will inform others (colleagues or external clients, contacts and suppliers). Ask about a reference too; your employer may only supply the most basic type but your line manager might also give you a more personal one. Making sure you get a good one can make subsequent job hunting less stressful.
Preparation
Work out how you can ensure a smooth transition and minimise disruption to your employer. There may be a range of things you can do to hand over professionally, such as completing projects, working out the priorities with your line manager, and leaving clear documentation for the successor in your post concerning processes or software.
Your letter of resignation
Keep your letter short. You don’t need to give lots of explanations or justification for why you’re leaving. Don’t be tempted to address the failings of the company or your boss, either. Instead, thanking your employer for the job and mentioning what you appreciated about it is a graceful touch. Here’s an idea of what to include:
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First paragraph – the basics:
Inform the employer that you wish to resign and confirm the agreed final date at work.
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Second paragraph – thank your employer:
Mention any particular career-building projects you worked on or opportunities to develop skills and contribute to the employer’s goals and successes. You can also mention your appreciation at being able to work in a great team.
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Third paragraph – handover:
State your willingness to finish existing projects and hand over your work smoothly.
Questions 22-27
Complete the sentences below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 22-27 on your answer sheet.
The best way to resign
Avoid all 22 ............... to resign in an angry way. Instead, follow this procedure:
Arrange a meeting with the boss to:
- mention any projects which are underway and give ideas for their 23 ............... .
- discuss how much notice you need to give before you go.
- request information on the type of 24 ............... you will receive.
Steps you can take before you leave:
- Work to cause as little 25 ............... as possible to the organisation.
- Make sure your successor has adequate guidance on the organisation’s systems.
In the resignation letter:
- avoid mentioning any 26 ............... in the organisation.
- show appreciation for aspects of the job, e.g., the chance to improve your 27 ............... .
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indicate your wish to leave everything in good order.
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