Phrases for Chairing Meetings like a Pro
Phrases for Chairing Meetings like a Pro
This is the fifth part of our series about meetings. For today’s post Yvette and I have decided to provide you with phrases for chairing meetings like a pro. We’ve put them into nine categories for you.
So, let’s get started..
STARTING
Hello everybody. – not hello together! That’s Denglish, if you want more Denglish, then check out this post here.
Thanks for joining the meeting today.
Let’s get started.
INTRODUCING PARTICIPANTS
Before we begin, can I introduce …(add the name here) to you all?
This is …(add the name here),
Let’s go round the table and introduce ourselves. – this does not mean that you get up and walk around the table. It means everybody sitting at the table introduces him and herself.
SAYING WHO CAN’T ATTEND
Joe has sent his apologies. – not apologizes!
I have apologies from … (add the names here)
DEALING WITH THE MINUTES
Elena , can you take the minutes?
Can we take the minutes as read? –What does this mean? Does everyone agree with what was recorded/decided in the minutes of the last meeting.
OUTLINING THE AGENDA
The aim / purpose / objective of the meeting today is to …
So, we’re here today to talk about …
The first item on the agenda is …
We’ll start with …
Then, we’ll move on to …
After that, we will look at …
And finally, we’ll talk about …
MANAGING THE DISCUSSION
Would anyone like to comment on this?
What do you think, Sven?
Would you like to add anything?
Are there any further questions?
Let’s move on to the next point.
Let’s skip item 2 and move on to item 3. –skip means miss out
Hold on, please.
We’ll come back to you in a moment.
If we could continue to discuss …
Can we come back to …
We’re running out of time, so let’s move on.
Could you minute that?
Let’s put that on next week’s agenda.
DELEGATING TASKS
Can you let me have a copy of …?
Could you circulate the …?
Can you keep everyone up to date with developments?
Ray will send me information about … and Jessica will follow up on …
Sara, you’re responsible for …
I need somebody to …
SUMMARIZING THE DISCUSSION AND DECISIONS
Let me just (quickly) summarize what we have discussed today.
To recap / To sum up …
We’re / I’m going to …
We’ve agreed to / that …
Is there any other business? – this is often abbreviated to AOB in the agenda
CLOSING THE MEETING
So, that’s all we have time for today.
I think we should stop / can finish there.
Let’s agree the date of the next meeting.
Thank you very much everybody.
So, there you have it!
We’ve covered nine categories of phrases for charing meetings like a pro. What about you? Do you have any you’d like to add? Then please just schedule a call with me click here to schedule a call and tell me about it. Are you interested in other business English skills? Then check out the post about listening here and about using your voice effectively here.
One more thing
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Take care
Nadia
PS Yvette and I have a podcast called “Your English Podcast”. You can find it on iTunes and on Spotify sign up for it, so you don’t miss the next episode.
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