Révision D’Anglais

Revision Sheet: Small Talk and Business Meetings

Small Talk:
1. Definition and Importance:
 Small talk refers to casual and informal conversation, often about non-work-
related topics.
 Crucial for relationship-building, fostering trust, and understanding colleagues
as individuals.
 Approximately 50% of business communication involves small talk.
2. Benefits of Small Talk:
 Facilitates learning about colleagues' current activities, challenges, and
perspectives.
 Strengthens interpersonal relationships, contributing to a positive work
environment.
 Enhances (améliorer) teamwork, cooperation, and a sense of camaraderie
among employees.
3. Timing and Settings:
 Often occurs organically in casual settings like the queue for the photocopier,
coffee machine, or water cooler.
 Can be intentionally encouraged in meetings to build relationships between
individuals from different departments.
4. Relationship Building as Real Work:
 Argues that relationship building is an essential aspect of work, challenging
the notion that it should only happen outside of working hours.
 Advocates for allowing small talk during work hours, especially in meetings, as
a systematic and effective way to build relationships.
Business Meetings:
1. Time Management:
 Proposes using a clock to calculate the cost of meetings, emphasizing the
financial impact of time wastage.
 Stresses the importance of punctuality to maximize efficiency and reduce
unnecessary costs.
2. Preparation and Agendas:
 Recommends sending detailed agendas with clear instructions before
meetings to ensure participants come prepared.
 Encourages participants to focus on problem-solving and decision-making
during meetings, minimizing time spent on issue explanation.
3. Agenda Adherence:
 Advises against letting discussions veer off-topic and suggests redirecting
unrelated conversations to separate meetings.
 Highlights the importance of maintaining control over meeting content to
achieve concrete decisions.
4. Time Limits:
  Proposes setting time limits for meetings to prevent unproductive discussions
and ensure a focus on achieving specific outcomes.
 Emphasizes the need for concrete decisions and prompt implementation after
the meeting concludes.
5. Balance with Small Talk:
 Argues against overly rigid meeting structures, advocating for a balance
between structured discussions and opportunities for small talk.
 Suggests that a company tolerating small talk can harness the skills and ideas
of its employees more effectively, contributing to overall success.
Additional Considerations:
 Acknowledges that small talk, while seemingly informal, plays a crucial role in
business communication.
 Encourages finding a sensible balance between structured business discussions and
informal small talk for optimal results.
 Emphasizes the potential negative consequences of a company that entirely dismisses
the importance of relationship-building through small talk.

What is the difference between small talk and business:

Small talk and business talk serve different purposes within the realm of communication.
(Les petites discussions et les discussions commerciales servent des objectifs différents dans
le domaine de la communication.)

Here are the key differences between the two:

**1. Purpose:
 Small Talk: Primarily serves social and interpersonal purposes. It helps build rapport,
establish connections, and foster a friendly atmosphere. Small talk is not directly
related to work tasks and often revolves around casual topics like weather, hobbies,
or weekend plans.
 Business Talk: Has a more professional and task-oriented purpose. It focuses on work-
related discussions, including project updates, problem-solving, decision-making, and
other aspects directly related to achieving business objectives.
**2. Context:
 Small Talk: Typically occurs in informal settings, such as break rooms, coffee areas, or
before and after formal business meetings. It often takes place spontaneously and is
characterized by a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
 Business Talk: Takes place in formal settings like meetings, presentations, or
structured discussions. The context is usually more structured, and conversations are
directed toward achieving specific business goals and outcomes.
**3. Content:
 Small Talk: Involves non-business-related topics, focusing on personal interests,
general experiences, or shared experiences outside of work. The content is light and
aims to establish common ground and build relationships. ( Le contenu est léger et
vise à établir un terrain d’entente et à nouer des relations.)
  Business Talk: Centers around work-related topics, such as project updates, strategy
discussions, problem-solving, and decision-making. The content is typically more
structured, goal-oriented, and directly related to the tasks at hand.
**4. Timing:
 Small Talk: Often occurs in informal, unplanned moments, such as during breaks, in
common areas, or at the beginning or end of a meeting. It is not time-bound and can
happen organically.
 Business Talk: Usually takes place during scheduled meetings or other designated
work-related interactions. The timing is more structured, with a specific agenda and
set duration for discussions.
**5. Frequency:
 Small Talk: Can happen frequently and spontaneously throughout the day,
contributing to a positive work environment and team cohesion.
 Business Talk: Occurs as needed, typically during planned meetings, presentations, or
discussions related to specific work tasks or projects.
**6. Formality:
 Small Talk: Tends to be informal, friendly, and relaxed. It may involve informal
language and expressions.
 Business Talk: Generally follows a more formal structure, with clear communication
protocols, a defined agenda, and adherence to professional language and etiquette.


In summary, small talk focuses on building relationships and creating a positive work
environment, while business talk is more formal and task-oriented, concentrating on
achieving specific business objectives. Both are essential for effective workplace
communication, contributing to a well-rounded and successful professional atmosphere.

Une definition plus détaillée :

Business Talk Definition: Business talk refers to formal, professional communication that
takes place within a work or organizational context. It involves discussions, conversations,
and exchanges of information specifically related to work tasks, projects, strategies, decision-
making, and other aspects directly tied to the achievement of business objectives. Business
talk is characterized by a structured and goal-oriented approach, often occurring in formal
settings such as meetings, presentations, or other work-related interactions. The language
used in business talk is typically formal and follows professional etiquette, focusing on
effective and clear communication to drive organizational success.
Cours du 16 Février 2024

What is a mutinational company ?

1- Multinational company :
2- How have compagni got so big ?
3- How the law is changing ?
4- How effectives is the law ?
5- Can we punish a parent company

La loi nous permet de rester safe

Keep in line

SUMMARY