Situation

During a meeting, Elisabeth and Simon present information on competitors' products. It is generally
the session leader or chairperson who regulates the amount of speaking time designated to each
person.

Elisabeth: "Hello everyone. Today we will talk about the product we launched on the market
last week. We will begin by discussing our competition then we will analyse the sales figures.
I will now hand things over to Simon who will tell you more about our competitors."
Simon: "My goal is to analyse our main competition. To begin with, I'd like to bring your
attention to these figures. They illustrate how the market is shared between three different
companies whose sales represent 20, 30 and 50% of the market. Next, I'd like to show you the
new product launched by one of our foreign competitors."

Rules
Announcing the agenda
 First of all...
 We will begin...
 I would like to start...
 The first item on the agenda is...
 Does anyone want to add anything to the agenda? No? In that case, the agenda is adopted.

Changing speakers
 Mr Ricci, I will now hand things over to you.
 Ms Stott, you have the floor.
 It's your turn.
 Please give your attention now to Ms Smith.
 I will now give things over to Ms Beckett who will talk to us about product placement.
 Are there any questions?
 Ms Smith has asked to speak. Please go ahead.
 First Mr Hansen, then Ms Hodgon and finally Ms MacKinlay will give their opinions on this
matter.
 Please don't all speak at once; it is Mr Gallagher who has the floor.

Asking to speak
 I would like to speak.
  May I respond to the question regarding last month's statistics?
 I'd like to ask a question.
 I want to add something to what Peter just said.
 I just have one thing to say!

During a formal business meeting, it is polite to wait until the end of a speech before asking to
speak. It is acceptable to raise your hand or to give a signal that you have something to say. Cutting
someone off in the middle of his or her speech is an action that is taken only when you want to take
over as speaker.

Interrupting
 Pardon me for interrupting...
 I'm sorry to interrupt you but...
 Pardon me, but if I can just add that...
 I would like to say that...
 (Just) one word on this subject...
 I would like to remark that...
 I would like to add something to this point...

Keeping the floor

 I will finish by...
 I have not yet finished. I was saying that...
 May I please finish?
 I will quickly conclude by saying that...
 I have a few more words to say then I will hand things over to Mr Ricci.

In order to keep the floor you need to dominate; it's a battle of the strongest and the loudest, because
the most forceful speaker will most likely keep the floor.

Enforcing time limits

 Please allow Mr Donald to finish.

 Ms Cooper has concluded and I will now hand things over to the next speaker.
 I'm sorry but Ms O'Donnell had asked to speak.
 Please finish quickly Mr James, as it is now Ms Russell's turn.
 I'm sorry to interrupt you but you have exceeded your allotted speaking time.
 I will ask you to please be brief.
 Please respect the time limit of three minutes per intervention.

Changing the subject

 I have nothing to add.

 As there are no further remarks, we will move along to other things.
 If there are no more questions, we will move on to the following subject.

Calling someone to order

 Please return to the subject.

  We are drifting away from the subject!
 I'm sorry but this is not on the agenda.
 I'm sorry but you are off topic.

Postponing a discussion

 It appears we need to think about this some more.

 We need further information on this matter.
 We are going to discuss this later.
 Concerning Mr Ricci's proposition, we will discuss the decision later.

Ending the meeting

 In conclusion...
 Does anyone have any questions?
 In conclusion, I would like to say that...
 To finish / to conclude, I want to say that...

Cross Cultural
Welcome Speech
Meetings are great opportunities to give welcome speeches, make toasts and express kind wishes.

Giving a welcome speech

 We have the honour and the pleasure of welcoming you here today.
 We hope you have a pleasant stay in our country.
 Esteemed colleagues, I have the pleasure of welcoming you to London on behalf of our
organisation.
 We are meeting here today to discuss marketing.
 I am honoured to welcome you on behalf of the company's sales team.
 We are happy that you have arrived safely.

Responding to a welcome speech

 We thank you for your warm wishes.

 I thank you for having organised this meeting on such short notice.
 We would like to thank you for inviting us.
 It's a great pleasure to be here with you.
 For us, it's an honour and a pleasure to meet with you.

Making a toast

 I would like to make a toast to Mr Siggers who will be retiring next week.
 Raise your glasses in honour of Mr Grant, our president.
 Let's drink to the success of our project!
 Let's drink to Ms Smith's recovery!