Business meetings and professional communication

1. Real-life Conversation: A Team Meeting

Scenario: A weekly team meeting where a manager discusses project updates and assigns tasks.

Manager: Good morning, everyone. Let’s get started with our weekly meeting. First, let’s go over the progress on our current projects. John, could you give us an update on the marketing campaign?

John: Sure! We’ve completed the social media strategy, and we are currently working on the email campaign. We expect to launch it by next Wednesday.

Manager: That sounds great. Is there anything blocking your progress?

John: Not at the moment, but we may need some design support towards the end of the week.

Manager: Noted. I’ll coordinate with the design team. Sarah, how is the new product development going?

Sarah: We’re on track with the prototype, but we encountered a minor issue with one of the components. We are working with the supplier to resolve it.

Manager: Thanks for the update. Keep me posted if you need any assistance.

Before we wrap up, let’s discuss next steps. John, please finalize the email campaign content. Sarah, update us once the supplier issue is resolved. Does anyone have any other questions or concerns?

(Silence)

Manager: Alright, thank you, everyone. Let’s reconvene next Monday at the same time.

2. Key Phrases and Their Uses

Here are some key phrases commonly used in business meetings:

• Starting a meeting:

  • "Let’s get started with our meeting."

  • "Shall we begin?"

  • "Let’s go over today’s agenda."

• Giving updates:

  • "We are currently working on..."

  • "We have completed..."

  • "We are on track with..."

• Discussing issues:

  • "We encountered a minor issue with..."

  • "We may need support from..."

  • "Is there anything blocking your progress?"

• Assigning tasks:

  • "Please finalize the report by Friday."

  • "Can you follow up with the client?"

  • "I’ll coordinate with the team."

• Closing a meeting:

  • "Before we wrap up, let’s discuss next steps."

  • "Does anyone have any other questions or concerns?"

  • "Let’s reconvene next week at the same time."

3. Practice Exercises

A. Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with appropriate phrases from the lesson.

1. "__________, let’s go over today’s agenda."

2. "We __________ a small issue with the supplier."

3. "Can you __________ the final draft by Monday?"

4. "__________ we wrap up, let’s discuss next steps."

5. "Does anyone have any other __________ or concerns?"

Answers:

1. Let’s get started with our meeting

2. encountered

3. finalize

4. Before

5. questions

By practicing these phrases and using them in real-life scenarios, you will become more confident in business meetings and professional communication. Keep practicing and applying these expressions in your workplace!