would anybody re-paraphrase it plz?!

Question

what does it mean to give one a slap-up lunch?

pot plants to screen desks?

Stop peeing over their shoulders

they are shiftless bunch of liberty takers?

he digs his heels in and can not be shifted.

most of the members are sharp-suited and have slick patter (like you),

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

Can you give some context for these, please?

Are you sure it wasn't peeking over their shoulders??

If you dig in your heels, you are being stubborn about something. You refuse to change your mind, your course of action, or whatever is going on.

Ta.qUe.Ri.a · Answer

What to look out for? Silences when there should not be. Odd complaints, '***, I wish Clare would stop nattering to me so much'. Grumblings and bitchy gossip. Fierce competitiveness where there does not need to be any. Sudden appearance of demarcation lines, such as pot plants to screen desks. Books or computers on desks being used to screen or shield people. People being left out of social invites. People being left out of office humour.

Feebs11 · Answer

What to look out for? Silences when there should not be. Odd complaints, '***, I wish Clare would stop nattering to me so much'. Grumblings and bitchy gossip. Fierce competitiveness where there does not need to be any. Sudden appearance of demarcation lines, such as pot plants to screen desks. Books or computers on desks being used to screen or shield people. People being left out of social invites. People being left out of office humour. In open plan offices, people like a sense of privacy. This can partially be achieved by using plants [palms/ficus/schefflera] grown in pots which are placed so that the desks are obscured.

You show them that you trust them by backing off, leaving them alone to get on with the job. Stop peeing over their shoulders, checking every few moments, looking up nervously every time they move or cough or get up. Relax and let them get on with it. You can still ask them to report back at the end of the day/week and encourage them to come to you to discuss any problems. Just make it clear you trust them to do it, and you are always there if they need support or guidance.

Undoubtedly either "peering" or "peeking" - looking over their shoulders.
.

But, I hear you say, what if I really do not trust them? What if I know they are a lazy, good-for-nothing, shiftless bunch of liberty takers? What if, indeed? Whose team is it? Who employed, trained, kept such a bunch of monkeys? shiftless - indolent and lacking ambition; liberty takers = people who take liberties = take advantage of a situation to their own advantage. So an umotivated group of people concerned for themselves and no one else.

So if you are managing a sales team, say, and most of the members are sharp-suited and have slick patter (like you), but one prefers casual garb and is more chatty with his customers, do not mark his card as 'not a company man' – judge him on the results he gets. If he marks his targets and his customers love him, then vive la différence.

Sharp-suited = smartly dressed in a tailored suit; slick patter = You know what you want to say and say it with confidence.

Ta.qUe.Ri.a · Answer

thank you Grammar Geek, Feebs11. you made it easier. love you all.

would anybody re-paraphrase it plz?!

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