That\u2019s why today we\u2019re going over the most useful business meeting phrases you need<\/strong> in your arsenal. These will help you position yourself as eloquent and productive in the human-centric culture of the modern workplace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, they will help you come out of any type of meeting<\/a> looking like a true professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s dig in!<\/p>\n\n\n There are plenty of reasons to be anxious about a meeting<\/a> \u2014 especially if you\u2019re hosting it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe you\u2019re worried you\u2019re not an effective communicator<\/a> because English is your second language. Perhaps you fear your language skills can\u2019t fully convey your knowledge, and you\u2019re concerned about being misunderstood or appearing unprofessional. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternatively, you might worry about overusing “management speak<\/a>” or business jargon<\/a>, overwhelming others, obscuring clarity, and even building resentment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Either way, we are here to throw you a lifeline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n From opening a meeting to waving your teammates goodbye, we\u2019ve listed all the business phrases you might need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s start at the top \u2014 with business meeting phrases to use at the very beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First things first \u2014 start a meeting in a polite and respectful manner<\/strong><\/a>. Don\u2019t jump straight into the reason you scheduled it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s go over all the phrases you\u2019ll need in the first few minutes of your call <\/strong>\u2014 from welcoming and introducing participants to sharing the agenda and outlining your meeting goals .<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some business meeting phrases you should have in mind in the beginning, regardless of your conference purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phrases for welcoming the participants:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you all for coming.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cI appreciate everyone being here.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cFirst, I\u2019d like to welcome you all.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cI would like to thank you for being here on time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cI wish to thank you all for coming on such short notice.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, the attendees may not have come across each other before the meeting. They may have just joined the company and logged in to their first virtual onboarding<\/a> session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Or maybe they finished their employee onboarding<\/a> but haven\u2019t had the chance to meet everyone yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s see how you can break the ice before turning to the topic of the meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phrases for introducing the participants:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCould everyone briefly introduce themselves?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cI would like to introduce\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cI would like to begin by introducing\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s my pleasure to introduce\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet\u2019s take a moment and introduce ourselves.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlease join me in welcoming\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n Boost your meetings with Pumble<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Pumble Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Starting the meeting in the right way is vital for success. If you\u2019re worried about potential awkwardness, you can try opening with a few ice-breakers. Here are our top 200:<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a warm welcome and a round of introductions (when necessary), people will want to know why they are there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if the meeting has been on everyone\u2019s calendar for weeks, or it\u2019s a regular weekly update, it\u2019s still necessary to clearly state its purpose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s take a look at some useful business meeting phrases you can use to ensure everyone is on the same page without sounding like you just Googled \u201cbest corporate English sentences\u201d a minute before the meeting started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phrases for presenting the meeting goals:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur aim today is to\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are here today to decide on\/agree on, etc.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cBy the end of today\u2019s meeting, we need to\u2026\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve scheduled this meeting so that we\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe purpose of today\u2019s meeting is\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cToday, we are going to\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Meetings are a necessary evil \u2014 according to Pumble\u2019s Meeting Statistics for 2026<\/a>, over 70% of employees think their job satisfaction would improve if they attended fewer meetings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, apart from scheduling them sparingly, always make sure to point out the topics and the dynamics of the encounter. In other words \u2014 present the meeting agenda<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s a list of practical business meeting phrases to help you review all the agenda items without skipping anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phrases for sharing the agenda of the meeting:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFirst, we will be discussing\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfter that, we will move on to\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen, we\u2019ll try to cover\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cShortly after, we\u2019ll go over\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf there\u2019s enough time, we will also go through\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cFinally, we will talk about\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Pumble Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you need help creating a meeting agenda, Pumble has got you covered. Check out our list of free and customizable meeting agendas that you can use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It takes more than just welcoming everyone and introducing the talking points to make a meeting effective<\/a>. Some might even say those first two steps are the easy ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After that comes the main event \u2014 the meeting itself, which involves discussions, questions, and clarifications<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This might be difficult for those who aren\u2019t confident in their communication skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It may also feel daunting for members of multicultural teams<\/a> who struggle with understanding business or formal English in meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s examine the phrases that can help you stay composed and communicate effectively throughout a meeting. Keep an eye out for practical corporate English expressions you can use to overcome language barriers<\/a>. They will help you sound natural in a modern, casual work environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n Improve collaboration and cut down on emails by moving your team communication to Pumble.<\/p>\n\n Sometimes, you schedule a meeting to update everyone on recent developments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Other times, the meeting\u2019s purpose is nothing but celebrating the success<\/a> and progress of the team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But even when the goal of your meeting goes beyond announcing company news, it\u2019s still necessary to touch upon the current situation in your team or company<\/strong>. This builds trust<\/a> and creates a sense of psychological safety<\/a> for everyone involved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To do that, you should share updates and ask others to do the same. Try doing it with one of the following phrases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phrases for sharing or asking for updates in a meeting:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBefore we jump to our main point, I have something to share.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cI would like to inform everyone about the project\u2019s progress.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow is [Project Name] coming along?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cHas everyone submitted their monthly reports?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cJosh, can you let us know what\u2019s new in\u2026?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cRegarding last month\u2019s reports, I would like to add\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cI suggest we start with Jessica updating us on\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Pumble Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Asking for an update can sometimes be awkward. To learn how to do it as smoothly as possible, read our full guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, your team members might need a hint that it\u2019s time to move on<\/strong> and let the topic they\u2019re discussing be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whenever you want to suggest moving forward, you can use one or more of these business meeting phrases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Phrases for moving to another topic:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think that covers it. Now we can go to our next topic\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet\u2019s move on to our next point.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cSince we\u2019ve covered this issue, now we can go to the next one.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe next topic we need to cover is\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow that we\u2019ve found a solution\/finished discussing this topic, we can go to\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf nobody has anything else to share, let\u2019s move on to\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Meetings often start with small talk<\/a>. This isn\u2019t a bad thing \u2014 small talk can help ease everyone into the meeting and make people feel more comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, it can sometimes get out of hand<\/strong> and spill over into the meeting, even during critical discussions. Before you know it, things can turn into mayhem \u2014 people talking over each other, adding quips and comments, and drifting away from the main topic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To prevent this and keep your meeting in order, try using some of the following phrases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phrases for keeping the discussion on track:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCan we continue this discussion later and go back to\u2026?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are getting off topic. Can we return to\u2026?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cCan we please go back to our subject?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid we are running out of time, so could we go back to\u2026?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cGetting back to the topic\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet\u2019s skip this topic and take it up at another time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe can continue talking about this later. Now, let\u2019s go back to our previous subject.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n Stay efficient. Use Pumble<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to avoid being another voice in the crowd, you can always use the in-meeting chat, as shown in the image above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, if you sense that your team is still eager to talk, you can interrupt them to refer them to continue the conversation in the #random channel of your team communication app<\/a> \u2014 like Pumble<\/a> by CAKE.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Pumble Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you need some extra help when it comes to engaging people who attend your meetings, check out this article:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"120__Useful_English_Phrases_for_Business_Meetings_-_cover](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/120__Useful_English_Phrases_for_Business_Meetings_-_cover-1.webp\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nPhrases to use if you are holding a meeting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What to say when opening a meeting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Phrases for welcoming and introducing meeting participants<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/A-manager-gives-everyone-a-chance-to-introduce-themselves-during-a-workshop-on-Pumble-a-team-communication-app.webp\")
\n
Phrases for sharing the objectives of a meeting<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Phrases for introducing the meeting agenda<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
What to say during a meeting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/landing-1@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n\n\nPhrases for discussing updates<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Phrases for moving forward<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Phrases for keeping a discussion on track<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/A-manager-prompts-the-team-to-move-on-after-going-off-point-on-Pumble-a-team-communication-app-by-CAKE.com-.webp\")
![\"The](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/The-random-channel-in-the-Pumble-team-chat-app-gives-your-team-a-chance-to-discuss-casual-topics-outside-of-business-meetings.webp\")