32 Expressions for Leading a Business Meeting in English
Leading meetings can become increasingly common the further up the career ladder you go. A great way for non-native speakers to prepare for English meetings and improve fluency simultaneously is to learn expressions for the key stages of a meeting.
In addition to enhancing your preparation for the meeting, learning expressions will help you benefit from three things: First, reducing grammar mistakes. Second, sounding more native-like. Third, understanding native speakers better.
Let’s dive into some useful expressions for leading a meeting in English.
Opening the Meeting
Welcoming Participants:
“Good morning/afternoon, everyone. Thank you for being here.”
“Let’s get started. Thank you all for coming.”
Stating the Purpose:
“The purpose of today’s meeting is to…”
“We’re here today to discuss…”
Outlining the Agenda:
“Here is the agenda for our meeting.”
“Let’s review the agenda before we begin.”
Setting Expectations:
“We have a lot to cover today, so let’s try to stay on track.”
“I’ll make sure we stick to the time allocated for each topic.”
During the Meeting
Introducing Topics:
“The first item on the agenda is…”
“Let’s start with…”
Facilitating Discussion:
“What are your thoughts on this?”
“Does anyone have any questions or comments?”
Managing Time:
“We need to move on to the next point.”
“Let’s try to wrap up this discussion in the next five minutes.”
Encouraging Participation:
“I’d like to hear your input on this, [Name].”
“What do you think about this, [Name]?”
Handling Disagreements
Acknowledging Different Opinions:
“I see your point, but let’s consider another perspective.”
“That’s a valid concern. How about we…”
Steering Back on Topic:
“Let’s get back to the main issue.”
“We’ll address that later; for now, let’s focus on…”
Finding Common Ground:
“It seems like we all agree on…”
“Let’s work towards a solution that everyone can support.”
Concluding the Meeting
Summarizing Key Points:
“To summarize, we’ve agreed on…”
“In conclusion, we’ve decided to…”
Assigning Action Items:
“Who’s responsible for this task?”
“Let’s set a deadline for this.”
Clarifying Next Steps:
“Our next meeting will be on [date].”
“Before we adjourn, let’s confirm our action plan.”
Thanking Participants:
“Thank you all for your contributions.”
“I appreciate everyone’s time and input.”
Closing the Meeting:
“That concludes our meeting. Thank you.”
“If there’s nothing else, we’ll end here. Have a great day!”
Conclusion
Leading meetings becomes increasingly common as you advance in your career. Preparing for your English meetings by learning key expressions for each stage not only enhances your readiness but also improves your overall fluency. This practice offers three significant benefits: reducing grammar mistakes, sounding more native-like, and better understanding of native speakers. By mastering these expressions, you’ll be well-equipped to lead successful and effective meetings in any professional setting.
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