193. Understand More in Meetings: Business Expressions #1
Oct 25, 2023
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Learn common business expressions to improve understanding and feel confident in team meetings. Explore expressions related to starting things, their origins, and meanings. Understand phrases like 'get the ball rolling', 'get things moving', and 'hit the ground running'.
Learning common business expressions can enhance understanding and participation in meetings.
Organizing expressions by theme can aid memorization and improve comprehension of conversations.
Deep dives
Understanding colleagues and building confidence
One way to build confidence and understanding in meetings is to familiarize oneself with common business expressions that people use. By learning these expressions, professionals can better comprehend the messages being relayed and feel more comfortable participating in conversations. It is common for professionals to experience a sense of panic when they do not understand something being discussed, fearing they might reveal their lack of comprehension if asked a question. However, asking for clarification using phrases like 'Can you please provide some clarification?' instead of admitting 'I didn't understand' can alleviate discomfort. Additionally, various factors such as speech clarity, speed, accents, and regional expressions can influence how well one understands their colleagues. While it may seem overwhelming to learn expressions from different countries, having a basic understanding of common expressions used in business settings can greatly improve communication and alleviate the pressure to use those expressions oneself.
Expressions for starting
In this episode, the host introduces a mini-series on business expressions for different work situations. The first theme covered is expressions related to starting. The podcast presents three expressions: 'get the ball rolling,' 'hit the ground running,' and 'get something off the ground.' 'Get the ball rolling' is used to mean starting or initiating a project or task. This expression draws a visual analogy with sports games where starting the ball rolling begins the game. 'Hit the ground running' also means to start, but with a sense of urgency and momentum. It originates from a military context where soldiers need to start immediately and energetically upon landing in enemy territory. 'Get something off the ground' refers to the act of starting a project or task, likening it to a plane taking off. These expressions are explained in a way that aids comprehension and offers visual cues to help remember their meanings.
Tips for learning and using expressions
The podcast offers some insights into learning and using expressions effectively. Firstly, it emphasizes that expressions vary by country, role, and company, and even within an organization, certain expressions can become popular through company culture. While it may feel challenging to remember and use expressions correctly, learning them can still be valuable in understanding conversations and responding appropriately. The podcast encourages a focus on understanding expressions rather than feeling pressure to use them, as grasping their meaning contributes to better communication. Lastly, the host suggests organizing expressions by theme rather than learning random expressions, enabling easier categorization and enhancing memorization.
Do you ever feel lost in the middle of a meeting or get distracted because a colleague used an expression you don't know? This is the first episode in a mini-series I am going to do around business expressions. It feels really frustrating when you don't understand everything that is being said, but trying to learn common business expressions can help in these situations.