7 Phrases to Streamline Your Business Meetings

*Editor’s note: This article is authored by Anna Kidalova, instructor at English For IT

Meetings are an essential part of every IT professional’s workday. It is not uncommon to encounter (= face) challenges in choosing the appropriate language for questions, requests, or proposals, especially when working in companies with diverse teams from all around the world.

That is why today we are going to explore 7 phrases (and a great deal of useful vocabulary) that will prove valuable to you in your upcoming work meetings or call!

1. I would like to touch on the topic of…

[ to touch on = discuss / raise thequestion of / communicate / talk about / bring up (= mention) / bring …. to the table ]

This phrase will help you introduce a fresh topic into the conversation. You can also use it at the end of a meeting if the topic you would like to discuss has not been mentioned yet.

Example: “I would like to touch on the subject of data security and discuss the measures we have in place to protect our sensitive information from potential breaches.”

2. Could you elaborate on that point?

[elaborate on = give more information about / add more info]

Use this phrase in cases when your colleague or conversation partner hasn’t fully explained their point of view. This request politely indicates your interest in gaining (= achieving) a deeper understanding and encourages the speaker to provide more details or explanations to enhance (= improve / complete) the discussion or decision-making process.

Example: “I appreciate your input. Before we move forward, could you please elaborate on the point of data security measures you made earlier?”

3. In light of recent developments, we may need to revise our approach.

[ in light of = in context of / in this situation / based on / taking … into account]

[revise = review / update / investigate / study / look at / explore / check .. out / change ]

Sometimes it can be challenging to explain and present new information or changes that have emerged (= appeared) during the development process, however, it is crucial you keep your teammates informed about changes and updates. Here’s one way to do that.

Example: “Team, I wanted to discuss an important matter with you. In light of recent developments, specifically the shift in customer preferences towards personalized shopping experiences, we may need to revise our approach. It’s crucial that we adapt our marketing strategies to focus more on customized offers and explore innovative ways to engage with our online customer base effectively.”

4. It’s imperative that we adhere to our timeline to meet our goals. (formal) / It’s important that we stick to our timeline so that we can meet our goals. (less formal)

[ it’s imperative that = it’s important (crucial, vital) that we have to / it’s a high priority]

-[adhere to = follow]

How do you effectively reinforce (= strengthen / support) the importance of a particular assignment? Now, you have two versions of how you can communicate that. Feel free to use the informal phrase if your work environment is pretty casual and relaxed. Alternatively, use the formal version if you work in a highly formalized corporate culture where you don’t have much personal rapport with people.

5. Let’s examine this issue from a more holistic perspective.

[ examine = review / revise / investigate]

[holistic perspective = a big picture/ overview ]

When tackling intricate problems or decisions in a business context, employ (= use) this phrase to foster (= create) the consideration of interconnected factors such as context, long-term implications, and ripple effect (or “domino effect”). By doing so, you will promote comprehensive viewpoints, facilitate a deeper understanding, and encourage informed and thoughtful discussions that go beyond immediate concerns.

Example: “Let’s examine this issue from a more holistic perspective. This means looking beyond just the customer support department and considering factors such as product quality, delivery processes, and even our overall communication strategy.”

6. I’d like to propose a solution that takes into account all of our constraints.

[ take into account = keep in mind / consider / think about / remember]

[constraints = blockers / limitations / issues]

When communicating with colleagues, it is crucial to demonstrate your eagerness (= readiness) to find practical solutions that fit within the project’s limitations as this helps foster a better understanding of work processes. Therefore, feel free to use this phrase to propose your solution or approach.

Example: “ I’d like to propose a solution that takes into account all of our constraints. How about we put together a small team that will build the software layer in-house? Granted, it will take a few weeks but it will be much more cost-effective than using a third-party service.”

7. We may need to streamline (certain processes).

[ streamline = optimize / tailor / adjust / change ]

Every tech professional takes pride in improving, automating, and optimizing (aka “streamlining) technical and business processes. This entails (= involves) occasionally removing unnecessary components from the existing workflow that hinder (= prevent) progress.

Example: “To improve efficiency and address the delays, we may need to streamline our inventory management processes. Specifically, let’s focus on implementing automation in the inventory tracking, optimizing the order fulfillment workflow, and integrating our inventory system with our sales platform.”

Would you like to keep learning useful phrases and grammar? How about boosting your speaking and pronunciation skills so that you can easily communicate at work? Then, check out our course English For Tech 2.0!