Useful phrases for running a business meeting
Opening the Meeting
- Good morning/afternoon, everyone.
- If we are all here, let’s
+ . . . get started (OR)
+ start the meeting. (OR)
+ . . . start.
Welcoming and Introducing Participants
- Please join me in welcoming (name of participant)
- We’re pleased to welcome (name of participant)
- It’s a pleasure to welcome (name of participant)
- I’d like to introduce (name of participant)
- I don’t think you’ve met (name of participant)
Stating the Principal Objectives of a Meeting
- We’re here today to
- Our aim is to …
- I’ve called this meeting in order to …
- By the end of this meeting, I’d like to have …
Giving Apologies for Someone Who is Absent
- I’m afraid.., (name of participant) can’t be with us today
- She is in…
- I have received apologies for the absence of (name of participant), who is in (place).
Reading the Minutes (Notes) of the Last Meeting
- First let’s go over the report from the last meeting, which was held on (date)
- Here are the minutes from our last meeting, which was on (date)
Dealing with Recent Developments
- Jack, can you tell us how the XYZ project is progressing?
- Jack, how is the XYZ project coming along?
- John, have you completed the report on the new accounting package?
- Has everyone received a copy of the Tate Foundation report on current marketing trends?
Moving Forward
- So, if there is nothing else we need to discuss, let’s move on to today’s agenda.
- Shall we get down to business?
- Is there any other business?
- If there are no further developments, I’d like to move on to today’s topic.
Introducing the Agenda
- Have you all received a copy of the agenda?
- There are three items on the agenda. First,
- Shall we take the points in this order?
- If you don’t mind, I’d like to … go in order (OR)
skip item 1 and move on to item 3
- I suggest we take item 2 last.
Allocating Roles (secretary, participants)
- (name of participant) has agreed to take the minutes.
- (name of participant) has kindly agreed to give us a report on this matter.
- (name of participant) will lead point 1, (name of participant) point 2, and (name of participant) point 3.
- (name of participant), would you mind taking notes today?
Agreeing on the Ground Rules for the Meeting (contributions, timing, decision-making, etc.)
- We will hear a short report on each point first, followed by a discussion round the table.
- I suggest we go round the table first.
- The meeting is due to finish at…
- We’ll have to keep each item to ten minutes. Otherwise we’ll never get through.
- We may need to vote on item 5, if we can’t get a unanimous decision.
Introducing the First Item on the Agenda
- So, let’s start with
- Shall we start with. .
- So, the first item on the agenda is
- Pete, would you like to kick off?
- Martin, would you like to introduce this item?
Closing an Item
- I think that covers the first item.
- Shall we leave that item?
- If nobody has anything else to add,
Next Item
- Let’s move onto the next item
- The next item on the agenda is
- Now we come to the question of.
Giving Control to the Next Participant
- I’d like to hand over to Mark, who is going to lead the next point.
- Right, Dorothy, over to you.
Summarizing
- Before we close, let me just summarize the main points.
- To sum up…
- In brief,
- Shall I go over the main points?
Finishing Up
- Right, it looks as though we’ve covered the main items
- Is there Any Other Business?
Suggesting and Agreeing on Time, Date and Place for the Next Meeting
- Can we fix the next meeting, please?
- So, the next meeting will be on… (day), the . . . (date) of.. . (month) at…
- What about the following Wednesday? How is that?
- So, see you all then.
Thanking Participants for Attending - I’d like to thank Marianne and Jeremy for coming over from London.
- Thank you all for attending.
- Thanks for your participation.
Closing the Meeting - The meeting is closed.
- I declare the meeting closed. Interrupting
- May I have a word?
- If I may, I think…
- Excuse me for interrupting.
- May I come in here?
Giving Opinions
- I (really) feel that…
- In my opinion…
- The way I see things…
- If you ask me,… I tend to think that…
Asking for Opinions
- Do you (really) think that…
- (name of participant) can we get your input?
- How do you feel about…?
Commenting on Other Opinions
- I never thought about it that way before.
- Good point!
- I get your point.
- I see what you mean.
Agreeing with Other Opinions
- Exactly!
- That’s (exactly) the way I feel.
- I have to agree with (name of participant).
Disagreeing with Other Opinions
- Up to a point I agree with you, but…
- (I’m afraid) I can’t agree
Advising and Suggesting
- We should…
- Why don’t you….
- How/What about…
- I suggest/recommend that…
Clarifying
- Have I made that clear?
- Do you see what I’m getting at?
- Let me put this another way…
- I’d just like to repeat that…
Requesting Information
- I’d like you to…
- Would you mind… I wonder if you could…
Asking for Repetition
- I didn’t catch that. Could you repeat that, please?
- I missed that. Could you say it again, please?
- Could you run that by me one more time?
Asking for Clarification
- I’m afraid I don’t quite understand what your are getting at.
- Could you explain to me how that is going to work?
- I don’t see what you mean. Could we have some more details, please?
Asking for Verification
- Do you mean that…?
- Is it true that…?
Asking for Spelling
- Would you mind spelling that for me, please?
Asking for Contributions for Other Participants
- What do you think about this proposal?
- Would you like to add anything, (name of participant)?
- Has anyone else got anything to contribute?
- Are there any more comments?
Correcting Information
- Sorry, that’s not quite right.
- I’m afraid you don’t understand what I’m saying.
- That’s not quite what I had in mind.
- That’s not what I meant.
Keeping the Meeting on Time
- Well, that seems to be all the time we have today.
- Please be brief.
- I’m afraid we’ve run out of time.
- I’m afraid that’s outside the scope of this meeting.
- Let’s get back on track, why don’t we?
- That’s not really why we’re here today.
- Why don’t we return to the main focus of today’s meeting.
- We’ll have to leave that to another time.
- We’re beginning to lose sight of the main point.
- Keep to the point, please.
- I think we’d better leave that for another meeting.
- Are we ready to make a decision?
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