Emma: Hey Daniel, do you have a minute? I could really use your help with something.
Daniel: Sure, Emma, what’s up? You look a bit stressed.

Emma: I’m trying to finish the sales report, but I’m not sure I’m using the right template. Could you take a quick look?
Daniel: Of course, no problem. Is it the monthly report for the regional managers?

Emma: Yes, exactly, the one that’s due tomorrow morning. I don’t want to send it wrong and have to redo everything later.
Daniel: Totally understand, that one is a bit tricky. Can you share your screen with me?

Emma: Here it is, this is the file I’ve been working on. I copied last month’s report and updated the numbers.
Daniel: Okay, that’s a good start. But you’re missing the new “Summary” tab we started using this quarter.

Emma: Ah, I thought something looked different. Where do I find that new tab?
Daniel: I’ll send you the latest version of the template, then you can just paste your updated data into it.

Emma: That would be amazing, thanks. Should I copy everything manually or is there a quicker way?
Daniel: You can paste the whole table into the “Data” sheet, as long as the columns match. After that, the formulas will update the rest automatically.

Emma: Great, that saves me a lot of time. I was worried I would have to rebuild all the charts.
Daniel: No, don’t worry, the charts are linked. Just make sure you don’t delete any formulas in the template.

Emma: Got it. Another thing I’m not sure about is the currency conversion for the UK numbers. Do we still use the same exchange rate as last month?
Daniel: Good question, no, we have a new rate. It’s in the email from Finance that we got on Monday.

Emma: Ah, I must have missed that email. Could you forward it to me, please?
Daniel: Sure, I’ll forward it right after this call. The email also explains how to round the figures.

Emma: Perfect, that’s really helpful. And about the comments section, should I write a long explanation or keep it short?
Daniel: Keep it short and clear, just two or three bullet points about the main changes compared to last month.

Emma: Okay, I can do that. Do I need to mention the lower sales in the south region or will the managers already see that in the chart?
Daniel: It’s better to mention it briefly, just to show that you’ve noticed it. You don’t need a detailed analysis, just one sentence is enough.

Emma: Understood. Once I finish, who should I send the report to first, you or our team lead?
Daniel: Send it to me first and I’ll give it a quick check, then you can send the final version to our team lead and the regional managers.

Emma: That makes me feel much more confident, thanks. Do you think you’ll have time to review it this afternoon?
Daniel: Yes, if you can send it by around four, I’ll look at it before my last meeting.

Emma: Perfect, I’ll aim to have it ready by three-thirty just in case. If I have more questions, is it okay if I ping you on chat?
Daniel: Absolutely, feel free to message me anytime. If it’s something more complicated, we can jump on another quick call.

Emma: You’re a lifesaver, honestly. I was starting to panic a bit with the deadline.
Daniel: Don’t worry, you’re doing fine. Once you’ve done this report a couple of times, it will be much easier.

Emma: Thanks, that’s reassuring. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me.
Daniel: No problem at all, that’s what teammates are for. Plus, I’d rather help now than fix it in a rush tomorrow morning.

Emma: Good point, that makes sense. Okay, I’ll start updating the numbers with the new template right away.
Daniel: Great, and I’ll forward you that Finance email now. Just send me a message when your draft is ready.

Emma: Deal, I’ll send it over as soon as I’m done. Thanks again, Daniel, you’ve saved my afternoon.
Daniel: You’re very welcome, Emma. Talk to you later and good luck with the report!

En el diálogo aparece un inglés de oficina cortés pero informal, típico entre compañeros de mismo rango.
Vocabulario central relacionado con el trabajo: report, template, file, data, charts, formulas, draft, deadline, meeting, email, Finance, regional managers, team lead.
Vocabulario para describir dificultad o estrés: tricky, stressed, panic, worried, a bit tricky, saves me a lot of time, that makes me feel much more confident.
Vocabulario de colaboración y apoyo: help, take a quick look, send it, share your screen, forward, review, check, message me, jump on a call, teammates, lifesaver.

Recomendación: vale la pena memorizar bloques completos como pequeñas fórmulas:
“I could really use your help with something.”
“Could you take a quick look?”
“That would be really helpful, thanks.”

EXPRESIONES TÍPICAS PARA PEDIR AYUDA

En inglés se suaviza mucho la petición, incluso cuando la situación es urgente.

Formas de responder de manera amable
“Sure, what’s up?”, “Of course, no problem.”, “Totally understand, that one is a bit tricky.”
Estas frases muestran empatía y disposición, algo muy valorado en culturas de oficina anglófonas.

Para acordar próximos pasos
“Send it to me first and I’ll give it a quick check.”
“If you can send it by around four, I’ll look at it before my last meeting.”
“Just send me a message when your draft is ready.”

Son expresiones muy típicas para organizar tiempos y responsabilidades de manera clara pero cordial.

Uso de modales suaves (can, could, would, might)
En vez de frases directas como “Help me with this”, se usan estructuras como:
“Could you take a quick look?”
“Should I copy everything manually or is there a quicker way?”
“If you can send it by around four, I’ll look at it…”

El uso de could, should, would hace la frase más cortés y menos imperativa, algo clave en inglés de oficina.

Condicionales simples para organizar tareas
Ejemplos:
“If you can send it by around four, I’ll look at it before my last meeting.”
Estructura: If + present simple, will + verbo. Es un first conditional típico para hablar de planes reales y condiciones concretas.

Presente continuo para planes próximos
Aunque aquí no es muy protagonista, la lógica sería:
“I’m sending it to you this afternoon.”, “I’m meeting a client at four.”
Es útil recordarlo para hablar de agenda y próximos pasos.

Verbos de apoyo y phrasal verbs frecuentes
“Look at it”, “take a quick look”, “send it over”, “forward it”, “jump on a call”, “paste your data into it.”
Estos phrasal verbs hacen que el inglés suene natural. Cambiar “observe” por “take a look” o “enter data” por “put the data in” es un salto enorme en naturalidad.

Uso de mitigadores
Palabras como “a bit”, “just”, “really”, “probably” rebajan o matizan lo que se dice:
“You look a bit stressed.” (más suave que “You look stressed.”)
“I was starting to panic a bit with the deadline.”
Este tipo de hedging es muy típico en inglés y suena más educado.

Grado de directitud
En español es muy normal decir algo como “Oye, necesito que me ayudes con el informe”.
En inglés, lo natural es usar softeners:
“Do you have a minute?”, “I could really use your help.”, “Could you maybe take a look?”
El contenido es el mismo (necesito ayuda), pero la forma cuida más la cortesía y la colaboración.

Enfoque en la colaboración y no en la culpa
El diálogo se centra en “cómo lo hacemos” más que en “quién se ha equivocado”.
Se dicen cosas como:
“That one is a bit tricky.” (el informe es difícil, no “tú”).
“Once you’ve done this report a couple of times, it will be much easier.”
Esto anima y evita que la otra persona pierda la confianza.

Normalidad de pedir ayuda
Pedir ayuda no se presenta como debilidad, sino como parte del trabajo en equipo:
“No problem at all, that’s what teammates are for.”
En entornos anglófonos está bastante aceptado que consultar y aclarar dudas forma parte del trabajo profesional.

Cerrar la conversación con agradecimiento
Frases como
“I really appreciate you taking the time to help me.”
“You’ve saved my afternoon.”
refuerzan la relación y reconocen el tiempo invertido por la otra persona. En español muchas veces se reduce a un “gracias”, pero en inglés se suele ampliar un poco el agradecimiento.

Preparar una “frase puente” para empezar
En lugar de traducir literalmente “¿puedes ayudarme con esto?”, usa algo como:
“Hey, do you have a minute? I need some help with the report.”
o
“Could I ask you something about the template?”

Pedir ayuda de forma concreta
Después de la frase puente, ir al detalle de manera clara:
“I’m not sure I’m using the right template.”
“I’m not sure about the currency conversion here.”
La estructura “I’m not sure…” es muy útil para señalar la duda sin sonar inseguro ni acusar a nadie.

Mostrar agradecimiento durante y al final
Mientras te ayudan, puedes usar:
“That’s really helpful, thanks.”
“That saves me a lot of time.”
Al terminar:
“I really appreciate your help.”
“Thanks a lot for taking the time.”

Acordar próximos pasos de forma clara
Para evitar malentendidos, úsalas casi como plantilla:
“So just to check, I’ll update the data and send you a draft by four, right?”
“Then you’ll review it and I’ll send the final version to the manager.”
Repetir el plan en voz alta es muy común y se considera profesional.

No obsesionarse con la perfección gramatical
En este contexto, es mejor un inglés sencillo pero claro:
En vez de “I have some doubts regarding the structure of the document”, puedes decir:
“I’m not sure about the structure of the document.”
En vez de “Could you possibly tell me if I should send it to you or to the team lead first?”
basta con:
“Should I send it to you first or to the team lead?”

Para desenvolverte bien en inglés cuando pides ayuda en el trabajo, necesitas tres pilares:

Unas cuantas expresiones modelo para pedir ayuda de forma cortés, como “Do you have a minute?”, “I could really use your help with…”, “Could you take a quick look?”

Vocabulario básico de oficina para hablar de tareas, plantillas, informes y plazos: report, template, draft, deadline, data, charts, review, send it over.

La costumbre de cerrar con un plan claro y agradecimiento: “I’ll send you the draft this afternoon, and then I’ll send the final version to the manager. Thanks again for your help.”