You can use common phrasal verbs like 'bring up' and 'get along' in a business meeting to sound more natural, fluent, and confident. For instance, 'bring up' is used to introduce a new topic for discussion, while 'get along' is perfect for describing the working relationship between team members or departments.
Mastering professional English often feels like climbing a mountain. You learn grammar rules and build a strong vocabulary, but something still feels unnatural. The secret ingredient you might be missing is the confident use of phrasal verbs. While they can be tricky, learning how to correctly use common phrasal verbs like 'bring up' and 'get along' in a business meeting can transform your communication, helping you sound less like a textbook and more like a native speaker.
This guide will break down how to use these essential phrasal verbs and others in a professional setting, complete with clear examples.
Why Should You Use Common Phrasal Verbs in a Business Setting?
Before we dive into specific examples, it's important to understand *why* phrasal verbs are so crucial in business communication.
- Natural Fluency: Native English speakers use phrasal verbs constantly in both casual and professional conversations. Using them correctly helps your speech flow more naturally.
- Nuanced Meaning: Often, a phrasal verb can convey a specific nuance that a single-word verb cannot. For example, 'look into' an issue implies a more thorough investigation than simply 'researching' it.
- Improved Comprehension: By actively learning and using these phrases, you'll also find it easier to understand your colleagues, especially in fast-paced discussions where office jargon and idioms are common.
How Do I Use 'Bring Up' in a Professional Context?
'To bring up' means to introduce a subject for discussion or to mention something. It's an incredibly useful phrase for managing the flow of a meeting and ensuring important points aren't missed.
Bringing Up a New Topic
Use this when you want to add an item to the agenda or shift the conversation.
- Example: "Before we move on, I'd like to bring up the Q4 budget projections."
- Example: "That's a good point. It brings up the question of project resources."
Bringing Up a Concern
This is a polite and professional way to introduce a problem or a sensitive issue that needs to be addressed.
- Example: "I feel I have to bring up the delays we've experienced with the supplier."
- Example: "During the client call, they brought up some concerns about the user interface."
What's the Best Way to Use 'Get Along' at Work?
'To get along' (or 'get on' in British English) means to have a good, friendly, or cooperative relationship with someone. It's essential for discussing team dynamics, collaboration, and workplace culture.
Describing Team Dynamics
Use this verb to comment on how well a team is working together.
- Example: "It's great to see the new hires getting along so well with the rest of the team."
- Example: "For this project to succeed, it is crucial that the marketing and development departments get along."
Discussing Interpersonal Skills
When talking about a colleague's performance or suitability for a role, their ability to cooperate is key.
- Example: "John is a great developer, and he gets along with everyone. He’s a real team player."
- Example: "One of the key interview questions was about how they get along with difficult colleagues."
What Other Common Phrasal Verbs Can I Use in a Business Meeting?
To really enhance your professional vocabulary, here are more phrasal verbs you will frequently hear and can use in meetings.
- Follow up: To take further action or gather more information about something discussed earlier.
- *Example:* "I will follow up with an email summarising the main action points from this meeting."
- Look into: To investigate or examine a problem or situation.
- *Example:* "We've seen a drop in sales this month. Could you look into it and report back?"
- Call off: To cancel a planned event.
- *Example:* "Due to the scheduling conflict, we have to call off tomorrow's client presentation."
- Draw up: To prepare a written document, such as a contract, proposal, or plan.
- *Example:* "The legal team will draw up the new employment contracts by Friday."
- Run by/past: To tell someone about an idea or plan to get their opinion on it.
- *Example:* "This is a great initial concept. Let's run it by the department head before we proceed."
In conclusion, don't be afraid of phrasal verbs! By starting with a few key phrases, you can significantly improve your professional communication. The key is to listen for them, understand their context, and practice. Mastering how to use common phrasal verbs like 'bring up' and 'get along' in a business meeting is a fantastic step toward achieving true English fluency and confidence in the workplace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are phrasal verbs too informal for a business meeting?
Not at all. While some phrasal verbs are very informal, many like 'follow up', 'look into', and 'draw up' are standard in professional and business English. The key is to learn which ones are appropriate for the workplace.
What is the difference between 'bring up' and 'come up'?
'Bring up' is an active verb; a person *brings up* a topic intentionally. For example, "I will bring up the issue." 'Come up' is passive; a topic *comes up* or appears in a conversation, often unexpectedly. For example, "The issue came up during the discussion."
How can I remember which phrasal verbs to use in a meeting?
Start small. Choose 3-5 common business phrasal verbs and focus on using them for a week. Keep a notebook of examples you hear colleagues use. Practice by writing them in sentences related to your own job.
Can you give an example of 'follow up' in a business email after a meeting?
Certainly. You could write: "Dear Team, Following up on our meeting today, I've attached the minutes and a list of action items. Please review and let me know if you have any questions."
Besides 'get along', what's another phrasal verb to describe teamwork?
A great one is 'pull together'. It means to work together as a team to achieve a common goal, often during a difficult time. For example: "I know this is a tight deadline, but if we all pull together, we can get it done."