Shadowing Practice: Steve Jobs talks about managing people - Learn English Speaking with Video

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One of the keys to Apple is Apple's an incredibly collaborative company.
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And so, you know how many committees we have at Apple?
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No. Zero.
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We have no committees.
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No committees.
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We are organized like a startup.
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One person's in charge of iPhone OS software.
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One person's in charge of Mac hardware.
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One person's in charge of iPhone hardware engineering.
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Another person's in charge of worldwide marketing.
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Another person's in charge of operations.
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We're organized like a startup.
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We're the biggest startup on the planet.
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And we all meet for three hours once a week, and we talk about everything we're doing, the whole business.
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And there's tremendous teamwork at the top of the company, which filters down to tremendous teamwork throughout the company.
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And teamwork is dependent on trusting the other folks to come through with their part without watching them all the time,
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but trusting that they're going to come through with their parts.
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And that's what we do really well.
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And we're great at figuring out how to divide things up into these great teams that we have
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and all work on the same thing, touch bases frequently, and bring it all together into a product.
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We do that really well.
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And so what I do all day is meet with teams of people
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and work on ideas and solve problems to make new products, to make new marketing programs, whatever it is.
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And are people willing to tell you you're wrong?
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Yeah.
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I mean, other than snarky journalists.
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I mean, people that work for you.
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Oh, yeah.
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No, we have wonderful arguments.
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And do you win them all?
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Oh, no. I wish I did.
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No, see, you can't.
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If you want to hire great people and have them stay working for you, You have to let them make a lot of decisions,
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and you have to be run by ideas, not hierarchy.
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The best ideas have to win.
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Otherwise, good people don't stay.
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But you must be more than a facilitator who runs meetings.
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You obviously contribute your own ideas.
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I contribute ideas, sure.
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Well, why would I be there if I didn't?

Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing speaking through videos like this one featuring Steve Jobs can greatly enhance your English language skills. The context of discussing management and teamwork in a global company allows you to learn relevant vocabulary and phrases that can be applied in professional scenarios. Engaging with this content not only helps in IELTS speaking practice but also familiarizes you with how effective communication is crucial in a collaborative environment. By observing the interactions and discussions in the video, you can improve your confidence and fluency in English while adopting the shadowing technique to mimic native pronunciation and intonation.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Steve Jobs uses a variety of grammatical structures and expressions that offer insight into effective communication. Here are some key structures to note:

  • “We have no committees.” - This simple present tense statement emphasizes the uniqueness and directness of Apple's organizational structure.
  • “We're organized like a startup.” - The use of the present continuous tense here illustrates an ongoing state of being that reflects on the company’s culture.
  • “You have to let them make a lot of decisions.” - This conditional statement expresses a requirement for effective management, which is essential for delegating responsibility and promoting teamwork.
  • “The best ideas have to win.” - This phrase serves as a definitive statement, showcasing Jobs' belief in meritocracy over hierarchy and stressing the importance of idea validation.

By practicing these expressions, learners can enhance their conversational skills and integrate them into their professional dialogues.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While shadowing Steve Jobs in this video, you may encounter several pronunciation challenges that are common among English learners:

  • “Teamwork” - Ensure you articulate both syllables clearly—/tiːm.wɜːrk/—to emphasize its significance in collaborative contexts.
  • “Committee” - This word contains a silent 't'; it's pronounced as /kəˈmɪt.i/. It’s important to practice this to avoid misunderstandings in discussions about organizational structures.
  • “Collaborative” - Pay attention to the rhythm and stress on the second syllable: /kəˈlæb.ər.ə.tɪv/, as this will help in conveying teamwork essence effectively.

Utilizing resources like a shadowing app can further aid in mastering these pronunciations, enhancing your ability to communicate seamlessly in English.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.