Do you know anyone who pushes the envelope at work?
Extra effort at work should be acknowledged!
Listen in today, and learn phrases to say someone has gone above and beyond at work.
Going the extra mile
Michelle asks Lindsay if she knows anyone who likes to push the envelope.
Lindsay responds that she has met many people who push their luck or push the envelope.
Today, Lindsay and Michelle are going to talk about this expression ‘push the envelope’ and what it means in the workplace.
To push the envelope means to do something that’s different or new.
It can be something that involves an element of danger.
It usually implies a big change.
They may want to accomplish something that is outside of what is typical.
Business and pushing the envelope
The phrase ‘push the envelope’ is an important expression in business.
If you want to achieve certain goals, you have to do things differently and make big changes.
This is about taking risks.
Perhaps you could push the envelope by attempting a new ad campaign, bringing up a new idea to your boss, or changing up a system at work that would improve a routine.
In this context, it’s a positive expression but it can also have a negative connotation.
It depends on what the person is doing or it can also refer to the limits of what you need to do.
Pushing the envelope can be overly risky, especially if it may be overstepping or might lead to burnout.
- bringing up a radical change to your boss that you know won’t make them look good
- not following rules
Here are some examples:
She’s a good worker, but she tends to push the envelope sometimes with vacation time.
I really think we need to push the envelope here- surprise people with our new design concept.
Do you really want to push the envelope now when everything has been going so well?
When to push the envelope
Michelle asks Lindsay when someone should push the envelope and when is it a good idea to play it safe.
Lindsay says discerning when to take a risk shows a certain amount of emotional intelligence.
It can take a certain level of experience to make a proper decision whether you should push the envelope or not.
You can also use similar expressions to ‘push the envelope.’
Here are some of them:
Rock the boat
Example: Let’s make a big change here- rock the boat a bit!
Stir things up
Example: I want to stir things up here but I don’t know if our office is ready for new policies.
Stir the pot
Example: I didn’t mean to stir the pot, but I felt it was prudent I bring this to your attention.
Roleplay
Here is a quick roleplay using the expressions shared in today’s episode that help you say you’re taking a risk at work.
This will help you better understand how to use them in a conversation.
In this scenario, Lindsay and Michelle are meeting about new policies at work.
Michelle: So we have this big meeting coming up with the head of the company.
Lindsay: Yes. So…I don’t mean to stir the pot, but …I do think some of the policies are a bit extreme.
Michelle: Oh really? I know they are pushing the envelope a bit, but I think they are fine.
Lindsay: Well we can test them out with some of the staff before we present them. See if they think we are rocking the boat too much.
Michelle: Okay, yeah! I don’t think it’s bad to stir things up a bit.
Takeaway
In the workplace, ‘pushing the envelope’ means going beyond the usual limits, taking risks, or trying something new to achieve big results.
While it’s often encouraged to innovate, it’s important to know when to take risks and when to play it safe.
Using phrases like “rock the boat,” “stir things up,” or “push the limits” can help describe taking risks at work.
However, be mindful that too much can lead to burnout or negative consequences.
Add these phrases to your vocabulary arsenal so you can express yourself well in the workplace.
You can also checkout our other podcast episodes that will help you up your business English game.
Check out episode BE 332: Don’t Hit a Brick Wall When Asking Someone About Their Job to learn what to say when you want to learn about someone else’s career.
Do you often innovate and take risks at work?
You can share your story in the comments below.
