How to open a meeting in English

Summary

This lesson teaches effective phrases and strategies for confidently opening a business meeting when you're in charge. It covers welcoming participants, making introductions, stating the meeting’s objective and agenda, and using sequencing terms to structure the meeting. The lesson also highlights how to transition smoothly between topics, ensuring a clear and engaging flow. By the end, you’ll be equipped with go-to phrases to start any meeting with confidence, keeping it focused and productive from start to finish.

Takeaways

• 😀 Start by allowing a few minutes for everyone to settle in or log in, especially for virtual meetings.
• 😀 Greet participants by name to acknowledge their presence and create a welcoming environment.
• 😀 Keep small talk brief to avoid distractions and transition smoothly into the meeting's start.
• 😀 Begin by welcoming the group, introducing yourself, and stating your position.
• 😀 If necessary, introduce any new participants or guest speakers using clear phrases like 'I'd like to introduce'.
• 😀 Clearly state the meeting's objective or agenda to ensure everyone understands the purpose.
• 😀 Indicate the meeting's duration to manage participants' expectations and reinforce time commitment.
• 😀 Use sequencing phrases like 'first', 'then', and 'we'll wrap up with' to outline the meeting's flow.
• 😀 Transition between topics using clear transitional phrases like 'let's move on to' or 'the next item on our list is'.
• 😀 Close each topic with phrases such as 'thank you for that summary' or 'now that we're clear on', then smoothly move to the next topic.
• 😀 Summarize the steps to opening a meeting effectively: welcome, introduce, state objectives, use sequencing, and transition smoothly between topics.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of this lesson?

The primary focus of this lesson is to teach effective phrases and strategies for opening a business meeting, especially when you're in charge.

Why is it important to greet participants by name, especially in virtual meetings?

Greet participants by name to acknowledge their presence and make them feel recognized, which helps build rapport and creates a more personal atmosphere.

What should be the first thing you do when starting a business meeting?

The first thing you should do is to welcome your group and introduce yourself if necessary, especially if the participants don't know you.

How should you introduce yourself during a business meeting?

Keep it simple by stating 'I'm [Name]' and your position, for example, 'I'm Keenan Rhodes, founder of the Clear English Corner.'

What phrases can you use to introduce new people to the group?

You can use phrases like 'I'd like to introduce [Name],' 'Please join me in welcoming [Name],' or 'You may not have met [Name] yet.'

Why is it important to state the objective or agenda of the meeting?

Stating the objective or agenda ensures that everyone understands the purpose of the meeting and what will be covered, preventing the meeting from feeling purposeless.

What are some examples of phrases to introduce the objective of the meeting?

Examples include 'The purpose of our meeting today is...', 'Our aim today is...', and 'By the end of this meeting, we will...'

What sequencing terms should be used to outline how the meeting will proceed?

Use simple sequencing terms like 'first,' 'then,' 'we'll wrap up with,' or 'to begin,' 'then,' 'we'll conclude with.'

How can you transition between different topics during a meeting?

You can transition by thanking the person who contributed, using phrases like 'Thank you [Name] for that summary,' and then moving to the next topic with phrases like 'Now that we're clear on [topic], let's move on to...'

What is a recommended way to close a topic and move to the next one?

Use transition phrases such as 'Now that we've covered [topic], let's discuss [next topic],' or 'Let's move on to the next item on our list.'