How To Make Small-Talk At A Business Meeting - Business English (Free PDF included)

Summary

This interactive lesson teaches effective small talk for business meetings. It covers three scenarios: conversing with a well-known colleague, someone from a different department, and a first-time meeting. The lesson includes dialogues and examples for starting conversations, such as discussing recent events, work updates, or personal experiences. It also provides tips for engaging with others and encourages practice to improve communication skills in a business context.

Takeaways

• 😀 Start small talk by asking about a known event or plan, such as a recent presentation.
• 🗣️ Practice dialogues to get comfortable with conversation starters like discussing work presentations.
• 🤝 Use open-ended questions to engage in conversation, for example, asking about someone's workload.
• 🔍 Inquire about departmental updates or changes to keep the conversation relevant and interesting.
• 🏢 When meeting someone from a different department, ask about their current projects or challenges.
• 🌐 For new acquaintances, use general topics like recent weather or events to initiate conversation.
• 👋 Greet someone you've only communicated with digitally by expressing excitement to finally meet in person.
• 🏨 Ask about their travel and accommodation to show care and make the other person feel welcomed.
• ⏰ Use the opportunity to schedule a follow-up chat during a break to continue building rapport.
• 💡 Encourage further engagement by asking open-ended questions about their experiences or opinions.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the interactive lesson?

The main focus of the interactive lesson is to teach how to make small talk at the start of a business meeting.

How many different scenarios are discussed in the lesson?

There are three different scenarios discussed in the lesson.

What is the first scenario presented in the lesson?

The first scenario is how to make small talk with a colleague you know well.

What is an effective way to start a conversation with a colleague as demonstrated in the first scenario?

An effective way to start a conversation is by asking about a recent event or something that you knew was planned or coming up, such as a presentation.

What are some additional conversation starters suggested for the first scenario?

Additional conversation starters for the first scenario include asking about upcoming events like a trade show, inquiring about a contract, or mentioning a colleague's promotion.

What is the second scenario about?

The second scenario is about making small talk with someone from a different department whom you don't know very well.

How does Gunter initiate the conversation in the second scenario?

Gunter initiates the conversation by asking if the other person is busy these days, which is a simple and effective way to start a conversation in this situation.

What is the third scenario presented in the lesson?

The third scenario is about starting a conversation with someone you haven't met before.

How does Javi start the conversation with Alexis in the third scenario?

Javi starts the conversation by saying 'It's great to finally put a face to the name,' which is a good conversation starter for meeting someone in person for the first time.

What are some conversation starters suggested for the third scenario?

Some conversation starters for the third scenario include asking about the person's trip, the weather in their hometown, or if it's their first time in a particular location.

What is the instructor's invitation to the audience at the end of the lesson?

The instructor invites the audience to share their own conversation starters in the comments and to watch more lessons for learning additional small talk phrases for business.