Essential Business English Phrases for Meetings

Effective communication in business meetings is crucial for professional success. Whether you're participating in team meetings, presenting ideas, or negotiating deals, using the right phrases can make you sound more confident and professional.

Starting a Meeting

How you begin a meeting sets the tone for the entire discussion. Here are essential phrases for opening meetings:

• "Good morning/afternoon, everyone. Thank you all for being here today."
• "Let's get started, shall we?"
• "I'd like to call this meeting to order."
• "Before we begin, let me briefly outline our agenda."
• "The purpose of today's meeting is to..."

Presenting Ideas and Opinions

When sharing your thoughts, it's important to sound confident yet respectful:

• "I'd like to suggest that..."
• "From my perspective..."
• "It seems to me that..."
• "I believe we should consider..."
• "May I propose an alternative approach?"
• "Building on what Sarah just said..."

Asking for Clarification

Don't hesitate to ask for clarification when something isn't clear:

• "Could you please clarify what you mean by...?"
• "I'm not sure I understand. Could you elaborate?"
• "Would you mind explaining that in more detail?"
• "Sorry, could you repeat that?"
• "Just to make sure I understand correctly..."

Agreeing and Disagreeing Diplomatically

Express agreement or disagreement in a professional manner:

Agreeing:

• "I completely agree with that."
• "That's exactly what I was thinking."
• "You make a valid point."
• "I'm on board with that idea."

Disagreeing:

• "I see your point, but have you considered...?"
• "I'm afraid I have to disagree with that."
• "That's an interesting perspective, however..."
• "I understand your concern, but..."

Managing the Discussion

Keep the meeting on track with these useful phrases:

• "Let's stay focused on the main issue."
• "We seem to be getting off-topic. Let's return to..."
• "I think we should move on to the next point."
• "We're running short on time, so let's..."
• "Let's table this discussion for now."

Interrupting Politely

Sometimes you need to interrupt, but do it professionally:

• "Sorry to interrupt, but I have a quick question."
• "Excuse me, may I jump in here?"
• "If I may interrupt for a moment..."
• "Sorry, before you continue, I'd like to add..."

Making Decisions

When it's time to make decisions, use these phrases:

• "Are we all in agreement on this?"
• "Let's put this to a vote."
• "It seems like we've reached a consensus."
• "So, we've decided to..."
• "Let's finalize this decision."

Assigning Action Items

Clearly delegate tasks and responsibilities:

• "John, could you take the lead on this?"
• "Sarah, would you be able to handle the research?"
• "Let's assign this task to the marketing team."
• "Who would like to volunteer for this project?"
• "The deadline for this is..."

Closing the Meeting

End your meetings on a positive and organized note:

• "Let's wrap up now."
• "Before we finish, let me summarize the key points."
• "Thank you all for your valuable contributions."
• "I'll send out the meeting minutes by tomorrow."
• "Our next meeting is scheduled for..."

Virtual Meeting Phrases

With remote work becoming common, here are phrases specific to virtual meetings:

• "Can everyone hear me clearly?"
• "I think you're on mute."
• "Could you please share your screen?"
• "The connection seems a bit unstable."
• "Let's record this session for those who couldn't attend."

Tips for Using These Phrases

• Practice regularly: Use these phrases in your daily conversations
• Pay attention to tone: Your voice should match the professionalism of your words
• Be authentic: Don't sound robotic; adapt phrases to your natural speaking style
• Listen actively: Good meeting participation involves listening as much as speaking
• Prepare in advance: Review relevant phrases before important meetings