Phrases to Use in Business Meetings in English

Summary

This live stream, hosted by Daphne, provides a comprehensive guide to using English phrases in business meetings. Covering everything from prepping for meetings, opening and introducing participants, to discussing topics, giving feedback, and keeping discussions on track, it equips viewers with practical expressions for every stage. Daphne also shares strategies for summarizing key points, managing off-topic issues, and concluding meetings professionally. Throughout, she engages with participants’ questions and offers clarifications, making the session interactive. Additionally, viewers are encouraged to download a free 2,000-core-word ebook to enhance their English fluency, vocabulary, and confidence in professional settings.

Takeaways

• 😀 Always set the right tone before a meeting by sending a clear email invitation and providing an agenda.
• 😀 Open a meeting by acknowledging participants and thanking them for their time.
• 😀 Introduce yourself clearly, including your role, department, and the purpose of the meeting.
• 😀 Introduce other participants or special guests to ensure everyone is acquainted.
• 😀 Share your opinions professionally using phrases like 'From my perspective...' or 'Based on my work...'.
• 😀 Give feedback politely, agree or suggest alternatives with phrases such as 'I see where you’re coming from, but...' or 'Perhaps it would be best if...'.
• 😀 Use transitional phrases to move between topics smoothly, e.g., 'Let’s move on to...' or 'Why don’t we turn it over to [name]...'.
• 😀 Ask questions clearly to clarify points or request examples, using phrases like 'Can I get a clarification on that point?' or 'Would you mind explaining that once more?'.
• 😀 Keep discussions on topic by redirecting politely, e.g., 'Returning to the item on our agenda...' or 'Let’s hold off on that topic until we’ve resolved this one.'
• 😀 Summarize and conclude meetings effectively by recapping main points, sharing takeaways, and thanking participants for their time.
• 😀 Temporary pauses can be used for unresolved issues with phrases like 'I want to respect everyone’s time' or 'Let’s tackle this in the next meeting.'
• 😀 Utilize available resources, like a free 2,000-core-words English ebook, to improve fluency, vocabulary, and professional communication skills.

Q & A

What are some phrases you can use to set the right tone before a business meeting?

You can say: 'I propose we meet about [topic]', 'I’d like to arrange a meeting to discuss [topic]', 'Please mark your calendar for [date] for our meeting to discuss [topic]', and 'Please review the agenda beforehand so we can get started right away.' These help participants prepare and understand the purpose of the meeting.

How should you open a business meeting to acknowledge participants?

You can start with phrases like: 'Thank you for taking the time to attend today', 'I appreciate everyone being here on time. Since everyone is here, let’s get started', or in emails, 'Hello [Name], I hope this email finds you well.' This shows professionalism and respect for participants' time.

What is a good way to introduce yourself during a meeting?

You can say: 'I’d like to start with a quick introduction about myself. My name is [Name], I’m in the [Department], and today I called this meeting to [purpose]. For those unfamiliar with my role, I work in [Department].' This helps others understand your role and context for the meeting.

How can you introduce other participants in a meeting?

You can use phrases like: 'I’m going to start off by asking everyone to briefly introduce themselves', 'Let’s take a moment to introduce ourselves', or 'I’d like to welcome [Name] from [Company/Department]'. This encourages interaction and clarity among attendees.

What are some ways to share your opinion during a business meeting?

You can say: 'From my perspective as [role], it seems that...', 'The way I see things, our best course of action is to...', 'Because I’ve done the research, it’s clear to me that...', or 'Based on my work, there’s no doubt that...'. These phrases allow you to express your expertise and perspective clearly.

How can you politely give feedback or agree/disagree with a colleague?

You can say: 'That’s a great point', 'I have to agree with [Name]', 'I see where you’re coming from, but in my opinion...', 'Perhaps it would be best if...', or 'That’s an interesting proposition. Do you see any alternatives?' These phrases help maintain professionalism while sharing your viewpoint.

What transitional phrases can be used to move between topics in a meeting?

You can use: 'Why don’t we turn it over to [Name] to discuss [topic]?', 'Let’s move on to [next topic]', 'Now that we’ve covered that, we can talk about [next topic]', and 'If nobody has anything else to share, let’s turn to [Name]'. These phrases help maintain the flow of the meeting.

What are some ways to ask for clarification during a meeting?

You can ask: 'Would it be possible for you to give me an example of what you mean?', 'Can I get clarification on that point?', 'Would you mind explaining that to me one more time?', 'Is there anything else anyone would like to share?', and 'Does anyone have any follow-up points?'. These ensure everyone understands the discussion clearly.

How can you keep a meeting on topic if participants go off track?

You can use phrases like: 'Returning to the item on our agenda...', 'Let’s hold off on that topic until we’ve resolved this one', 'Would you mind holding on to your question until after the meeting is finished?', and 'I’m afraid that’s out of the scope of this meeting, but we can address it another time.' These help maintain focus and efficiency.

What are effective ways to conclude and wrap up a business meeting?

You can say: 'To summarize, we’ve discussed...', 'Before we finish, let’s recap our main points', 'Here are the three main takeaways from our meeting', 'If there’s nothing more to discuss, I think we can wrap it up here', 'Since we finished our agenda items, everyone is free to go', and 'Thank you to everyone who was able to join today.' These phrases provide clarity and appreciation as the meeting ends.

What does the term 'takeaways' mean in a business meeting context?

A 'takeaway' refers to the main points or key ideas that participants should remember and bring away from the meeting. Essentially, it’s the essential information or decisions to retain for future reference.