20 Practical Tips With Example Phrases. Business English conversation skills are essential for building relationships, networking, and making a positive impression. Whether you’re greeting colleagues before a meeting or following up after, the right words can help you connect professionally and set the tone for success. Here is a mini-lesson with 20 easy-to-use Business English conversation tips, each with three example phrases you can start using right away.
Business English conversation includes all the spoken interactions in the workplace, from high-stakes meetings and negotiations to casual chats with colleagues and clients. It covers formal and informal communication, helping professionals speak clearly, confidently, and appropriately in any business setting—from the boardroom to the break room.
Why Business English Conversation Matters
Meetings aren’t just about agendas and decisions—they’re also about building relationships. What you say before and after the formal discussion can help you network, establish rapport, and leave a great impression. If you ever struggle with small talk in Business English, these tips will help you feel more confident and natural in professional conversations.
Before the Meeting: Engaging in Professional Small Talk
Business English Conversation Tips for Breaking the Ice (Tips 1-5)
1. Greet with confidence
Your greeting sets the tone for the conversation, so it’s important to choose the right level of formality. “Hello” is the safest and most professional option, making it ideal for formal meetings or first-time encounters. “Hi” is slightly more relaxed but still perfectly professional for most business settings, especially with colleagues or familiar contacts. “Hey” is the most casual and is best reserved for close colleagues or informal office settings. If you’re unsure, start with “Hello”—you can always adjust your tone based on how the other person responds.
Alternatively, use "good morning / afternoon / evening." These always work!
"Good morning! How’s your day going so far?"
"Hi, nice to see you again. How’ve things been since we last spoke?"
"Hey [Name], how was your weekend?"
2. Comment on the setting
"This office has a great view! Do you always meet here?"
"Do you know where the coffee is? I want to grab some before we start."
"Looks like we’ve got a full house today!"
3. Ask about their role or project
"What’ve you been working on lately?"
"How’s your team doing with the latest project?"
"I saw your presentation last week—great insights!"
4. Mention a relevant but "safe" news topic
As a rule, you will want to avoid political news. Industry relevant news is a good, safe bet. (a good choice)
"Did you see the latest industry report on [topic]? What you think?"
"There was an interesting article about [industry trend]—have you come across it?"
"I heard there’s a big event in [industry] coming up. Are you attending?"
5. Use humor (if appropriate)
"Looks like we all had the same idea today— everyone's wearing jeans!"
"I think we should get a loyalty card for all these meetings!"
"Hope there’s extra strong coffee—Monday mornings need caffeine!"
Business English Conversation Tips for Showing Building Rapport (Tips 6-10)
6. Ask about their work-life balance
"How do you manage your schedule with so many projects?"
"Any travel plans coming up for work or pleasure?"
"Do you usually have back-to-back meetings like this?"
7. Compliment professionally
A sincere compliment is always appreciated!
"I really liked your insights in the last meeting!"
"You always ask such great, open ended questions—it keeps our discussions interesting!"
"That was a great point you made earlier."
8. Relate with empathy
Ask about their work-life balance.
"Do you usually have back-to-back meetings like this?"
"How do you manage your schedule with so many projects?"
"Any travel plans coming up for work or pleasure?"
9. Offer help or collaboration
"If you ever need a second opinion on that, I’d be happy to help!"
"Let me know if I can support your team on this."
"I’d love to exchange ideas on that topic sometime!"
10. Transition smoothly into the meeting
"Looking forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts today!"
"Shall we get started?"
"I think we’re all set—let’s jump in!"
After the Meeting: Polite Wrap-Ups and Networking
Business English Conversation Tips for Closing with Confidence (Tips 11-15)
11. Express appreciation
"Thanks for the great discussion today!"
"I really appreciate everyone’s input."
"That was a productive meeting—thank you!"
12. Mention key takeaways
"I found the discussion on [topic] especially useful!"
"That was a great point about [key issue]."
"I learned a lot from today’s conversation!"
13. Ask for next steps
"So, what’s the next step from here?"
"How should we follow up on this?"
"Would you like me to send a summary?"
14. Extend the conversation
"Would love to continue this discussion sometime!"
"Let’s grab a coffee and discuss further!"
"Happy to chat more about this offline!"
15. Show enthusiasm for future collaboration
"Looking forward to working together on this!"
"Excited to see how this project progresses!"
"Hope we get to collaborate again soon!"
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Final Thoughts: The Unspoken Rules of Business English Conversation
Mastering business English conversation isn’t just about what you say—it’s also about how you say it.
It's about understanding the unspoken rules of workplace communication. In international settings, cultural differences can make small talk, greetings, and follow-ups more complex. What’s seen as friendly in one culture might feel too informal in another, and some professionals prefer to keep business and personal conversations completely separate! But you always need small talk, so if you find yourself in a unfamiliar context, you can try the following.
When you're in a new workplace and/or a new culture, a good rule of thumb is to start with observation, and adjust your style based on the behavior of others. Pay attention to their language, tone, and level of formality, and let it guide your social style while still being your authentic self. That can be hard, but with practice, you can find the right compromise.
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Next Steps in Improving Your Spoken Business English
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