Can we make a start now Business English

Can we make a start now? Business English for meetings: part 2

Agree or disagree? 1. Finish the meeting on time, even if a decision hasn’t been reached. 2. Encourage everyone to contribute to the discussion, even if some participants don’t want to. 3. Let the most confident people dominate the meeting because they probably have the best ideas.

Agree or disagree? 4. Follow the agenda and not allow the discussion to go in different directions. 5. Stop participants from interrupting each other. 6. Allow an antagonistic atmosphere to develop because it makes participants think more clearly and creatively.

Small talk is used to break the ice and create a relaxed atmosphere before the real business begins. However, making small talk can be difficult, particularly when you meet people for the first time.

One problem is that small talk can be about many different topics and you probably won’t be sure of all the vocabulary. One solution is to prepare topics that you would like to talk about. If you’re going to have a meeting with people from another country, research topics relating to that country.

Making small talk is not just about talking – it’s about listening, and the more actively the better. Here are some common phrases to show people that you are interested. • I see. • Oh, really? • Interesting. • That’s absolutely fascinating.

matching 1. 2. 3. 4. Which hotel How long Which airport Did you 5. Is this 6. Do you know a. did you fly into? b. are you staying at? c. my colleague, Yvonne? d. the first time you’ve come here for a meeting? e. come here by plane? f. have you worked for your company?

1. Which hotel are you staying at? 2. How long have you worked for your company? 3. Which airport did you fly into? 4. Is this the first time you’ve come here? 5. Do you know my colleague Yvonne? 6. Did you come here by plane? A. No, we came by car. B. Almost fourteen years. C. London Stansted. D. No, I don’t think we’ve met. E. No it isn’t. I was here in June for the kick-off meeting. F. The Carlton International, off Shaftesbury Avenue.

Complete the sentences nice everyone a. It’s …. … to see …………. . introduce b. Before we begin can I. . ………. . . Tim Mc. Carthy ……. . , to you all. apologies sent c. Sally Jones has ……. her …. . ……. . it make d. Pierre Kaufmann can’t ………. . either. e. As I said in the agenda I emailed last week, . . ……. . we’ll be discussing Our strategies for increasing. . ………. . sales. business f. Let’s get down to. ………. .

phrasal verbs with verbs 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. discuss review finalize examine consider a. go back over b. think about c. look at d. talk about e. finish off

Which phrasal verb? looking at 1. Right. This morning we’ll be. . ……. ways of talking about cutting our costs and also ……. . … next year’s budget. 2. The annual conference is next week, so we’ll finishing off be. . . ……… our final preparations this morning. 3. We need some new ideas about how to increase our sales, so we’ll be. . ………. a new talking marketing strategy this afternoon. about

4. OK. There have been three accidents in the factory in the last month. This morning we’ll going over be. ……. . back ……… Our health and safety thinking about guidelines and ………………. . what we can do to improve our safety record. looking at 5. We’ll also be ……………. the numbers from talking about accounting and ……. . ………. . ways that we can improve upon them.

practice introducing a meeting • Aim of meeting: review our last advertising campaign • Remember to introduce Margaret Hart • Apologies: Jim Hendry (ill) Important reminders • Objectives of meeting: finalize plans for next year’s sales conference • Introduce Harry Finch from our event management agency • Apologies: Jill Cooper (holiday) Bob Culbert (training course

a. Issues not on the agenda discussed. It stands for any other business. b. These are the main points for discussion. c. Notes of the last meeting are checked for accuracy. d. When the chairperson reports who is not able to attend e. Issues relating to the last meeting are discussed. D. C. E. B. B. B. A. 1. Apologies 2. minutes of the last meeting 3. Matters arising from the minutes 4. AOB 5. Review of IPO action plan 6. Redesign of corporate image 7. Post IPO investment portfolio

informal agendas • Most meeting agendas are informal • Even formal meetings often use informal style for agendas. • Writing style is brief and note like with bullet points or a short numbered list e. g. – Update on construction status – Discussion of proposed budget

Formal agendas • Formal agendas are usually reserved for the most important meetings such as – Board meetings – Annual general meetings – Meetings involving a president or vice president or other company VIPs

Useful phrases • Welcoming participants – It’s nice to see everyone. – Thanks for being here today. • Stating objectives – We’ll be discussing…. . – Joaquin will be examining

Useful phrases • Asking participants to introduce themselves – Why don’t you introduce yourself to everyone. – Tell us a bit about yourself – Could you tell us all who you are and say something about yourself.

Introducing yourself • • • I’m the (state job title) I’ve been with this company since 2010. I’ve worked in hospitality for 7 years. I’m based in the Mumbai office. I work at our branch in Landaa Giraavaru.

my let introduce colleague me

is this you’ve first a meeting come for here time the

Smith know everyone Margaret does Ms. here

pleasant I had journey you hope a

about tell bit yourself us a please

down business Let’s to get

nice it’s meet to you person in

be can’t Sally us today with

Quick meeting Your company has been left a large amount of money by the former owner in his will. The money is to be spent on improving the lives of present employees. Call a meeting to discuss how to spend it. Explain the point of the meeting and try to come to a conclusion.