Useful language for meetings

Beginnings

There are three/several/a number of points I’d like to make.

I’d like to begin by…

Asking for an opinion

What’s your opinion of …?

What’s your position/view on …?

What do you think about …?

Giving an opinion

I believe/think/feel that …

In my opinion/view…

Expressing support

I’m in favour of…

This proposal has my full support.

Expressing opposition

I can see many problems in adopting this.

I am opposed to the …

Persuading

Have you taken into account …?

Wouldn’t you agree that …?

Agreeing

I agree entirely/completely.

I think we are in agreement on that.

Absolutely.

Agreeing partially

I would agree with you on that.

I agree with you on the whole, but…

Disagreeing

I agree up to the point, but…

To a certain extent I agree with you, but…

I’m sorry, but I really can’t agree with you on that.

With all due respect, I must disagree.

Emphasizing

I particularly want to emphasize/stress/highlight the fact that …

We must not underestimate/underrate the importance of …

Correcting misunderstandings

I’m afraid there seems to have a slight misunderstanding.

Perhaps I should make that clearer by saying …

Perhaps I did not explain myself very well …

Asking for clarification or further information

Could you be a little more specific/precise?

I’m sorry, but could you explain in a little more detail?

What do you mean by…?

Interrupting

Could/May I come in at this point?

I wonder if I might comment on that last point?

If I may just interrupt you for a moment, I’d like to…

I don’t want to Sorry to

interrupt butt in

but don’t you think that …? but couldn’t…?

Handling Interruptions

Yes, go ahead.

If I may finish my point…

Let me finish.

Concluding

Let me conclude by …

In conclusion I’d like to say…

Summarizing

Briefly, the main points that have been made are …

To sum up then, there seems to be …

Task 1: Answer the questions and do the assignments

1. What is the idea of a meeting?

2. What lines are meeting divided along?

3. Characterize different types of meetings.

Task 2: Organize the vocabulary below by matching them with the right question. The first one has been done for you.

uncooperative decide a meeting brainstorm a waste of time competitive a chat friendly action interesting chair (person/man/woman) propose delegate negotiate a discussion useful items reports to call a meeting exchange ideas a conference matters colleague postponeto set up a meeting participant recommend subjects issuesagreement stimulating topics pointless points boring positive negative collaborative unproductiveminutes hostile cooperative helpful productive proceedings useless unfriendly agenda discuss disagreement
What do we call it?	How do we organize it?
Who participates?	What’s the atmosphere like? uncooperative
What do we do?	What do we talk about?
What’s the result?	What did we think of it all?

Task 3. Role-play. Enact a meeting of the Board of Directors of an imaginary company. Follow the lines:

- Choose the type of the meting

- Work out the agenda (the main issue on the agenda: the position of a company during/after the crisis)

- Determine the list of participants

- Hold the meeting using the recommended vocabulary.

Negotiations

Negotiation is one of the most common approaches used to make decisions and manage disputes. It is also the major building block for many other alternative dispute resolution procedures.

Negotiation occurs between spouses, parents and children, managers and staff, employers and employees, professionals and clients, within and between organizations and between agencies and the public. Negotiation is a problem-solving process in which two or more people voluntarily discuss their differences and attempt to reach a joint decision on their common concerns. Negotiation requires participants to identify issues about which they differ, educate each other about their needs and interests, generate possible settlementoptions and bargain over the terms of the final agreement. Successful negotiations generally result in some kind of exchange or promise being made by the negotiators to each other. The exchange may be tangible (such as money, a commitment of time or a particular behavior) or intangible (such as an agreement to change an attitude or expectation, or make an apology).

Negotiation is the principal way that people redefine an old relationship that is not working to their satisfaction or establish a new relationship where none existed before. Because negotiation is such a common problem-solving process, it is in everyone's interest to become familiar with negotiating dynamics and skills.

A negotiation process usually requires a special strategy which depends on the character of the negotiations and their goals. But typically any negotiation consists of the following stages:

1. Opening the Negotiations 2. Clarifying Proposals 3. Exploring the Zone of Bargaining and Options 4. Bargaining 5. Entering the Critical Phase 6. Closing

Glossary

1. to manage disputes – улаживатьспоры

2. dispute resolution – решениеспоров

3. voluntarily - добровольно

4. toreachajointdecision – совместноприниматьрешения

5. common concerns – общиепроблемы

6. to identify issues – определятьвопросы

7. toeducate – консультировать, предоставлять информацию

8. settlement options – зд. путирешения

9. to bargain over the terms – зд. обсуждать, обговариватьусловия

10. (in)tangible – (не)материальный

11. to redefine - пересматривать

There are a number of expressions which can be used in negotiations. The expressions are grouped into 6 categories. These categories are built upon a strategy for negotiating that is neither "hard" nor "soft" but both hard and soft. It is the method of principled negotiation developed by the Harvard Negotiation Project at Harvard University. Its goal is to decide issues on their merits and not on the stated positions of the two sides. It suggests that you look for mutual gains wherever possible, and that where your interests conflict, you should insist that the result be based on some fair standards independent of the will of either side.

A note on language style:

English speakers, especially Americans, like to express a certain amount of informality as soon as possible. Therefore, we quickly move to first names (although this is NOT a sign of intimacy or friendship). In addition, we quickly begin to use informal language. These facts are intended to signal cooperation among equal partners.

At the same time that we are moving toward informality in order to signal a willingness to cooperate, it is important to maintain an atmosphere of respect. How can we do this when using first names and informal expressions? We show respect in English in the following ways.

Use would likerather than wantwhen making requests. It's more indirect and, therefore, is more polite and respectful.

I want to hear you talk about that first point again.
(This could sound too much like a demand.)

I would like to hear you talk about that first point again.
(This is safer.)

Use "should", "could", or "might" to remind or inform people about what to do next. Without such words, you could sound too much like a teacher or a policeman.

Use phrases like "I think" and "maybe" and "perhaps" to introduce suggestions. These words do not indicate uncertainty; they do express respect for the other person.

It's time to start the meeting now. (This could sound too authoritarian.)
I think we should start the meeting now. (This is safer.)

I'll give you some background information about that. (This is okay if your voice sounds helpful.)
Perhaps I could give you some background information about that. (This is safer.)

Use QUESTIONS to make suggestions. Keep in mind, however, that you are not asking for permission, but you are showing the other person respect by giving him or her a chance to disagree or interrupt before you go on.

So, can we go on to the next point now?
So, are we finished with that point? If so, let's go on to the next one.

NOTE: The better you get to know someone, the less important these strategies become. People who know each other well (and who respect each other) can be much more direct in saying what they want and what they think.