Meetings

Mastering Meetings in Business English

In today’s fast-paced business environment, meetings are a crucial way to share ideas, make decisions, solve problems, and move projects forward. Whether you’re participating in a brainstorming session, leading a team discussion, or negotiating with clients, your ability to communicate effectively during meetings can significantly impact your professional success.

This chapter focuses on developing the skills and language you need to excel in a variety of meeting situations. From understanding the structure of a meeting and using the right vocabulary to handling difficult conversations and expressing your ideas clearly, you will learn how to navigate both in-person and virtual meetings with confidence.

We will cover the key stages of a meeting, including how to start off on the right foot, actively engage in discussions, handle disagreements diplomatically, and bring the conversation to a productive conclusion. You’ll also gain strategies for managing different personalities in the room, using persuasive language to influence outcomes, and taking effective notes that capture the meeting’s main points and decisions.

Through role-plays, listening exercises, vocabulary practice, and real-world scenarios, this chapter aims to equip you with the essential tools to communicate professionally and assertively in any meeting setting. By the end, you’ll not only understand the language of meetings but also the cultural nuances that can make your interactions more successful and respectful.

Get ready to turn every meeting into an opportunity to shine!

Warm-up Questions

What types of meetings do you have most often at work (e.g., project meetings, status updates, brainstorming sessions, client meetings)?

In your opinion, what makes a meeting effective or productive?

Can you think of a time when a meeting you attended was not successful? What went wrong, and how could it have been improved?

What are some common challenges you face when participating in or leading meetings in English?

Do you prefer in-person meetings or virtual meetings? Why?

How do you usually prepare for a meeting? Is there a specific strategy or method you use?

When someone disagrees with your point in a meeting, how do you usually handle it?

What phrases or language do you use when you want to give your opinion or make a suggestion during a meeting?

How do you feel when you have to interrupt someone politely in a meeting? What language do you use to do this?

If you had to summarize the key points of a meeting in just a few sentences, how would you do it?