Business Meetings And Discussions

First Business English know that in the business world, meetings are essential for communication, decision-making, and collaboration. Whether face-to-face or online, meetings allow teams to share information, solve problems, and align on goals. Business English learners should be comfortable with the language used in formal and informal discussions during meetings. This First Business English article introduces useful vocabulary, common phrases, and a model paragraph to help Business English learners participate more effectively in business meetings.

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Useful Vocabulary for Business Meetings

• Agenda – a list of topics to discuss

• Minutes – a written record of what was said and decided

• Action Point – a specific task assigned to someone

• Chairperson – the person who leads the meeting

• Consensus – general agreement

• Brainstorming – a session to generate ideas

• Follow-Up – additional actions or meetings after the current one

• Deadline – a time or date by which something must be completed

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Common Phrases Used in Business Meetings

Starting a meeting:

• “Let’s get started.”

• “Shall we begin with the first item on the agenda?”

• “Thank you all for coming.”

Giving your opinion:

• “In my opinion, we should… ”

• “From my point of view, this could work well.”

• “I believe this is the best solution.”

Agreeing or disagreeing diplomatically:

• “I agree with you to some extent, but…”

• “That’s a good point, however…”

• “I see your point, but have we considered…?”

Asking for clarification:

• “Could you clarify what you mean by that?”

• “I’m not sure I understand. Can you explain a bit more?”

• “Just to be clear, are you saying that…?”

Making suggestions:

• “How about we try a different approach?”

• “Maybe we could move the deadline forward.”

• “I’d like to suggest we focus on the marketing strategy first.”

Closing a meeting:

• “Let’s summarize the main points.”

• “Before we finish, are there any final questions?”

• “Thanks everyone. The next meeting will be on Thursday.”

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Example Paragraph

Yesterday, our team held a meeting to discuss the upcoming product launch. The chairperson opened the meeting by reviewing the agenda, which included marketing strategies, delivery timelines, and team responsibilities. During the discussion, we brainstormed ideas for the social media campaign. I suggested we collaborate with influencers, and the team agreed it was a strong idea. One action point was assigned to me: to contact three potential influencers before the next meeting. We also agreed to have a follow-up meeting next week to check progress. Overall, the meeting was productive, and everyone had a chance to contribute.

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Conclusion

Being able to participate in meetings and discussions is a key skill in the workplace. As a Business English learner you should aim to use a range of vocabulary, be polite, and use professional expressions to communicate your ideas clearly. Practice using these phrases in role-plays or in real meetings to gain confidence and fluency in business English conversations. To learn more simply book a lesson with us at First Business English.