Smart Sentence Starters for Business Conversations

Level: Intermediate • Date: April 19, 2025

Read the article aloud on your own or repeat each paragraph after your tutor.

Why Starting Matters

Do you ever feel awkward at the start of a business conversation? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many busy professionals know exactly what they want to say once the conversation gets going, but finding smart sentence starters can feel like standing at the edge of a cliff. That first sentence can feel risky. Will it sound natural? Will it land well? Will the other person respond? These questions can freeze you up, especially in high-pressure settings like meetings or presentations.

This moment of hesitation is more common than you think. In fact, it’s one of the top reasons people hold back from speaking up in meetings or networking events. The fear of “sounding wrong” or “being awkward” can be paralyzing. Sometimes it leads to overthinking or staying silent, which can make you feel invisible—even when you have something valuable to share.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to say something brilliant. You just need a simple, reliable sentence starter to break the ice. These phrases act like a bridge between silence and conversation. With the right phrase, you can shift the energy, open the door to connection, and build confidence from the very first word. Over time, these openers can become second nature, giving you a strong, calm start to every business conversation.

Helpful Sentence Starters

Let’s look at some sentence starters that can make your conversations easier:

Starting a Meeting

“Thanks for joining today. Let’s jump right in.” – A great way to signal that the meeting will be efficient and focused.
“Before we begin, does anyone have a quick update?” – This invites team members to share important info upfront and sets a collaborative tone.
“Let me start by outlining our main goals for this meeting.” – Use this to give structure and purpose to the meeting right from the start.

Asking for an Update

“Can you bring me up to speed on that project?” – Use this when you’ve been away or haven’t heard updates in a while. It shows you’re ready to get involved again.
“Where do things stand on your end?” – A friendly way to check progress and invite a status report from someone on the team.
“What’s the latest on that task?” – This is a simple and direct question that shows you’re tracking progress and want the most recent information.

Offering Help or Support

“Is there anything you need from me to move forward?” – A respectful way to show you’re ready to help if there’s a blocker or challenge.
“Let me know how I can support your part of the project.” – This phrase signals teamwork and willingness to collaborate without being pushy.
“Would it help if I took a look at that with you?” – A gentle offer to assist, especially useful when someone seems stuck or unsure.

Giving an Opinion

“From my point of view, we might want to reconsider…” – A polite way to express a different opinion while keeping the conversation constructive.
“One thing that stands out to me is…” – This helps highlight an important detail or insight you think deserves attention.
“I see it a little differently. Here’s why…” – A respectful phrase to introduce a different perspective, great for showing thoughtful disagreement.

Moving the Conversation Forward

“Just to keep us on track, can we move to the next point?” – A polite way to redirect the conversation and make sure the meeting stays focused and on time.
“Let’s circle back to that after we finish this section.” – Use this when someone brings up a good point, but it’s not the right time to fully discuss it. It shows respect while maintaining the agenda.
“That’s a good point. Let me build on that.” – This is a great way to agree and add your own thoughts or suggestions to the conversation naturally.

With practice, these sentence starters will feel natural. You’ll be able to speak up quickly and sound more confident in every conversation. Start by picking one or two that feel comfortable and try them this week. You might be surprised how much easier it gets!

Vocabulary

Awkward (adj) – Uncomfortable or embarrassing. “It was an awkward silence before the meeting started.”
Bring (someone) up to speed (phrase) – To update someone on the latest information. “Let me bring you up to speed on the project.”
Stand out (phrasal verb) – To be noticeable or important. “Her ideas really stood out during the meeting.”
Outline (verb) – To describe something briefly or clearly. “Let me outline the main steps.”
Move forward (phrasal verb) – To continue making progress. “We need a clear plan to move forward.”
Circle back (phrasal verb) – To return to a topic later. “Let’s circle back to that question at the end.”
Point of view (noun) – Someone’s opinion or way of thinking. “I understand your point of view.”
Support (verb) – To help or assist. “We support each other on this team.”
Build on (phrasal verb) – To add to an idea or continue it. “Let me build on what you just said.”
On track (phrase) – Following the right path or plan. “We are on track to finish by Friday.”

Comprehension Questions

What is the main purpose of using sentence starters in business conversations?
Which sentence would you use to begin a meeting?
What does it mean to “bring someone up to speed”?
Why is it important to keep the conversation “on track”?
How can these sentence starters improve your confidence?

Open-Ended Discussion Questions

Which sentence starter do you think you would use most at work?
Can you think of a time when starting a conversation felt awkward? What did you do?
How do you usually ask for help at work?
Why do you think it’s hard to start conversations in professional settings?
What other sentence starters do you already use that work well for you?

Want more tips like these? Sign up for the All About English Mastery Newsletter and get weekly lessons, real-world vocabulary, and practical conversation tools for professionals just like you.

Follow our YouTube Channel @All_About_English for more great insights and tips.