Meetings in English

accounts.
    A: Peter, sure! We used to have adjacent offices. How do you know Peter?
Useful phrases
Have you travelled far for today's meeting?
Whereabouts are you/is your company based?
So, how long have you been with the company?/Have you been at the company long?
What is your role at the company?
    When talking to someone you have met on previous occasions and with whose job and company you are already familiar, you might start by asking the person about how they are. Then look for common ground with regard to other business or work-related topics and industry developments.
Hi, John. Good to see you. How are you?
Hello, Mark. How are you settling in in your new role?
I heard about your promotion to Sales Director. Congratulations!
Did you attend the technology conference last week? What did you think of … ?
I saw your presentation at the annual convention last month – it was really interesting.
Have you heard that CBC may be merging with Smith Technologies? How would that impact your business?
Have you been affected by the recent increases in fuel costs at all?
    Handshaking
    Handshaking is usual during first introductions but not necessarily at every subsequent meeting. While participants in important meetings are likely to shake hands when arriving at the meeting, in informal settings business partners who have met each other on previous occasions and feel relaxed in each other's company may not necessarily shake hands every time they meet.
    How's business – and life?
    A common phrase English-speakers use with people they have met before and with whom they are on informal terms is simply, „How's business?“ This signals your interest in your conversation partner and their company without pushing for any specific information. This phrase leaves it open for your conversation partner to go into as much detail as they wish in their response. Business partners who know each other well may also graduate to small talk topics regarding their private lives.
Useful phrases
How's the family? Please give/pass on my regards to [name of partner].
So, how's life treating you?
Have you been busy of late?
So, how was your break in Spain?
Have you managed to get away for a holiday yet?
Last time we met you were off to the Bahamas. Did you have a good break?
    Checklist: levels and topics of small talk
Situation
Example small talk topics
Escorting someone to a meeting
Journey; travel plans while staying in the area; weather
Post-introductions; meeting someone for the first time
Journey; person's role at their company/their work; information about their company/industry; travel plans while staying in the area; weather
Someone you have met before; waiting for the meeting to start
How are you? How's business?; journey; trade fairs/conferences, etc; industry developments; events of shared interest: work or business-related; weather
Someone you know well
As level above, and also: family; holidays; news, sports, music events, etc
    Effortless small talk
    To make your small talk more fluent, you should bear some tactics in mind. They will make it easier for your partner to carry on with the small talk, and you will be perceived as a person who takes an interest in others and is open and friendly:
    Checklist: tactics for effortless small talk
Tactic
Example
Give answers in full sentences.
Where in Germany are you from?
    I'm from Passau, that's in the south, close to the Austrian border.
Listen for indirect signals.
We had quite a storm on the lake yesterday and almost capsized.
    So you must be a good sailor?
Give some information about yourself.
I really need to leave the meeting on time. I've got my ballet class at seven.
Useful vocabulary
    to merge, a merger: fusionieren, Fusion
    to impact sth: sich auswirken auf
    to be affected by sth: betroffen sein von
    adjacent: nebeneinander liegend
    Setting up the meeting room
    Even if you reserved the necessary technical items, things don't always run smoothly on the day of the meeting itself. You may need help setting up the equipment – especially if you are using conference call equipment. Ask a technician to check if it is set up properly before the meeting starts.
Useful phrases
    Asking for help
I'm afraid this extension lead isn't quite long enough. Could I trouble you for a longer one?
I'm having a little trouble with the projector. Please could you give me a hand to set it up?
Is there anywhere I could plug my mobile phone in to charge during the meeting?
Do you mind if I plug my