Business English - Ending a Phone Call | Telephone English | 925 English Lesson 36

Summary

In this lesson, Tim teaches how to professionally end a business call in English. He outlines a three-step process: signaling the end of the conversation, reviewing action points, and saying goodbye. Tim highlights useful expressions for each step, such as 'I should probably get going' and 'I'll send you the file tomorrow,' followed by polite sign-offs like 'Take care' or 'Have a great day.' The lesson concludes with a dialogue example, demonstrating how these expressions flow naturally in a conversation. By mastering these steps, learners can confidently wrap up business calls with professionalism and courtesy.

Takeaways

• 😀 The first step in ending a business call is signaling that you want to end it, often with words like 'well', 'so', or 'okay'.
• 😀 A polite way to end a call includes thanking the person and giving a reason for ending the conversation, like 'I need to go' or 'I've got to run'.
• 😀 It's important to avoid abruptly saying 'goodbye'; instead, smoothly transition by showing your intention to end the call.
• 😀 Reviewing the action points of the conversation is the second step. This often involves stating your next steps or confirming mutual actions.
• 😀 You can confirm the other person's actions by turning statements into questions, like 'You'll review the proposal next week, right?'
• 😀 The phrase 'I'll have that done' indicates that you're ensuring something will be completed, even if you’re not directly doing it yourself.
• 😀 The third step in ending a call is saying goodbye, where you can use various expressions like 'Have a great day', 'Good luck', or 'Take care'.
• 😀 Saying goodbye can include well-wishing or mentioning when you’ll talk again, such as 'We'll talk again soon' or 'Have a good weekend'.
• 😀 Common, friendly ways to say goodbye include expressions like 'Bye for now' or 'By then'.
• 😀 A typical business call ending involves signaling the end, reviewing next steps, and then signing off with a polite farewell.

Q & A

What are the three steps to ending a business phone call professionally?

The three steps are: 1) Signal that you want to end the call, 2) Review the action points discussed, and 3) Say goodbye.

What are some common phrases to signal that you want to end a call?

Common phrases include: 'Well, I should probably get going,' 'Okay, I've got to run,' and 'It's been great to chat.'

Why should you avoid just saying 'goodbye' at the end of a business call?

Simply saying 'goodbye' may seem abrupt and unprofessional. A more structured approach signals respect and ensures the conversation ends politely.

What does 'I’ll have that package sent off right away' mean?

It means that the speaker will ensure the package is sent, either by themselves or by someone else they are responsible for.

How can you confirm the action points discussed in the conversation?

You can confirm action points by restating them and turning the statement into a question, such as 'So, we’ll be chatting again next week, right?' or 'I’ll send you the file tomorrow.'

What is the purpose of reviewing action points during a business call?

Reviewing action points helps both parties clarify and confirm what will be done next, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

Can you give examples of how to sign off on a business call?

Examples of sign-off phrases include: 'Take care,' 'Have a great day,' 'Good luck with your presentation,' and 'We’ll talk again soon.'

What is the difference between saying 'Have a great day' and 'Good luck' at the end of a call?

'Have a great day' is a general, friendly sign-off, while 'Good luck' is typically used when the other person has an upcoming task or event, like a presentation or interview.

Why is it important to signal that you want to end the call instead of just saying goodbye?

Signaling that you want to end the call gives the other person a clear indication that the conversation is winding down, providing closure to the discussion before saying goodbye.

What is a friendly way to end a business call without sounding too abrupt?

Using phrases like 'It’s been great to chat,' or 'I should probably get going' makes the end of the conversation sound more natural and less abrupt, signaling a smooth closure.