Lead the Discussion: Essential English Phrases for Business Meetings
Business meetings are the heart of corporate operations, and participating effectively in English can be a significant challenge for non native English speakers. Beyond understanding the agenda, the ability to express opinions, ask questions, and lead discussions requires a specific set of English phrases and conversational strategies. Mastering these can help you not just attend, but actively contribute and influence outcomes.
Here are essential phrases and tips for leading discussions in English meetings:
- Opening the Meeting: “Good morning/afternoon, everyone. Let’s get started.” or “Thank you all for coming. The purpose of today’s meeting is to…”
- Expressing Opinions: “I believe that…”, “In my opinion…”, “From my perspective…”, “I’d like to suggest that…”
- Agreeing/Disagreeing Politely: “I completely agree with [Name].” “That’s a good point, and I’d like to add that…” “I see your point, however, I think…” or “I’m afraid I don’t quite agree with that.”
- Interrupting Politely: “Excuse me for interrupting, but…”, “May I just add something here?”, “If I could just jump in for a moment…”
- Asking for Clarification: “Could you elaborate on that?”, “Could you explain what you mean by…?”, “Just to clarify, are you saying…?”
- Summarizing and Concluding: “So, to summarize, we’ve agreed on…”, “To recap the main points…”, “Our next steps will be…”
- Managing the Discussion: “Let’s move on to the next item on the agenda.” “Does anyone have anything else to add?” or “We’re running out of time, so let’s wrap this up.”
By integrating these phrases, you’ll participate more confidently, ensure your voice is heard, and effectively steer discussions in English business meetings.
Ready to take charge in your next English business meeting? Elite English Club offers can help you improve your English to use in business meetings. Contact us today!