Follow-Ups in Business English

Follow-Ups in Business English

​(Handling Business Meetings)

Delivered to Multicrane Perkasa for capacity development program

BEFORE WE START, LET'S LEARN SOME EUPHEMISMS IN THE WORKPLACE​

​Euphemisms are vague expressions we use to replace something blunt and direct. For example, instead of saying that someone was “fired” (blunt and direct), we might say that the person was “laid off” (vague and indirect). There are many euphemisms that we use in the workplace.

​Instead of saying:

• ​Boss

• ​Secretary

• ​Problem

• ​Lie

• ​Illegal

• ​Used

You say:

• ​Supervisor, Manager, Super-ordinate

• ​Administrative assistant, Personal assistant

• ​Issue, Concern

• ​Falsify, Forge, Fabricate

• ​Undocumented

• ​Pre-owned, Secondhand

Let's try to change the underlined words with another word that we learned earlier

​FOLLOW-UPS QUESTION HAPPEN WHEN:

• ​Asking about current projects

• Asking about past yet recent events

• Asking about news

• Asking about plans and predictions

​Make a question using the word in a bracket

​

Example:

What ___ you ___ (work) on at the moment?

What are you working on at the moment?

​

​P.S: you can write the complete sentence or separate the words with comma

​MAKING FUTURE PLANS AND PREDICTION

I will have lasagna for lunch

I am going to have lasagna for lunch

I am having lasagna for lunch

I am about to have lasagna for my lunch​

​MAKING FUTURE PLANS AND PREDICTION

One of the most popular among English learners is using the modal verb ‘will’.

​

I’ll see you tomorrow.

We’ll talk about this next week.

I don’t think she’ll be happy about your news, let's have some meeting to discuss about this.

​Actually, "WILL" cannot be used in all contexts for future reference

​HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?

​But what is the difference? Are they all the same?

No. There is a difference in these 3 future tenses and the situations we use them for.

​WILL

​Use WILL for spontaneous decisions and plans made at the time of speaking.

I think I‘ll have sushi for lunch.

It’s getting late. I think I‘ll go home.

​

Use WILL to express yourself when thinking or considering plans.

I think I‘ll stay home tonight.

I don’t think I will come with you.

I will probably be really busy tomorrow.

​WILL

Use WILL for predictions; when we guess or believe something about the future.

I think I‘ll probably be really busy on the weekend.

I probably won’t be available tomorrow night.

​

Use WILL to make an offer of help.

Don’t worry. I’ll help you move house.

​WILL

Use WILL to show that you’re happy and willing to do something

I’ll pay for drinks tonight.

​

Use WILL to make promises.

I will love you forever.

​

Use WILL to show your determination to do something

A: You’re not going to get that promotion.

B: Yes I will!

BE GOING TO

Use BE GOING TO to talk about plans made before the time of speaking.

These are plans you have already arranged and maybe scheduled with other people.

​

We’re going to have lunch on Sunday.

I’m going to work on my project this weekend.

They‘re going to meet us at the airport.

BE GOING TO

Use BE GOING TO when we have evidence or a sign that something is going to happen.

We can be sure that it is likely to happen. We can see that it is going to happen.

​

Oh look out! She‘s going to fall!

It looks like it‘s going to rain.

He‘s going to win

BE + VERB ING (Present Continuous)

Use BE + VERB ING to talk about personal plans and social arrangements in the near future.

​

What are you doing tonight?

I’m seeing a movie with a friend.

Do you want to (wanna) catch up Monday night?

No, sorry. I’m working.

What are you doing Saturday night?

I’m having a party at my house.

Let's Have Some Practices​

​

Multiple Choice

We made a decision about our holidays. We ___ around Europe.

• will travel

• are going to travel

Multiple Choice

A: “I’m with a terrible headache.”

B: “ I ____ get you an aspirin.

• will get

• am going to

Multiple Choice

Peter ____ his children to the zoo. He has already the entrance tickets.

• will take

• is going to take

Multiple Choice

I’m sure Bruno ___ the race tomorrow.

• will win

• is going to win

Multiple Choice

It’s very cold today. It ____

• will snow

• is going to snow

Multiple Choice

Robots ___ the housework in the future.

• will do

• are going to do

Multiple Choice

Bill, ____ me washing the car?

• will you help me

• are going to do

Multiple Choice

Temperatures ___ a lot in the future.

• will rise

• are going to rise

Multiple Choice

__ going to have a holiday this year?

• Are you

• Will you

Multiple Choice

_______ a new supermarket here? (seeing a foundation of a building)

• Are they opening

• Will they open

Multiple Choice

__ a new customer later.

• I'm meeting

• I will meet

Multiple Select

A:__ this afternoon?

B: Nah, I ___ my bike community this afternoon

• Will you work

• Are you working?

• am going to meet

• will meet

​FOLLOW-UPS PHRASES

​Follow-up happens when:

​

​1. Changing the agenda/schedule

​2. Assigning new responsibilities

​3. Escalation of issue

​4. Deadline is approaching

​5. Feedback required

​6. No response/No answer

​START THE CONVERSATION

• ​I hope you are doing well!

• Thank you for speaking with me yesterday.

LEADING TO FOLLOW UP

• This is a kind reminder

  Following up on ______

  I would like to follow up with you about/regarding ____

  Please escalate _____ because ______

  I wanted to follow up on the message that I sent over on Monday.

  Hey, I was wondering if/whether _____

  Hi, I have been thinking about _____

  I was thinking it would be a great chance/benefit for you to __

CHANGING THE SUBJECT

• Bt the way, _______

  So, if you'd like, I can ______

IF WE DO NOT GET RESPONSES

• If you're too busy, I'll contact you

  To Meet Our Deadline/Stay on Schedule, I Need Your Answer by [Deadline]

  I Know You’re Busy, But I Want to Include Your Input/Expertise and Will Need it by [Deadline]

  Let Me Know if We Should Go With [Option 1] or [Option 2] by [Deadline]

  I wrote to you several times by now to remind you of

​Some of the follow-up responses

Put the words in the right order to make typical entences for making arrangements

​

Example:

Let's - soon - meeting - a - sometime - have

Let's have a meeting sometime soon

​Let's Have Some Reading

​To answer the question, you will read two middle-lengthy sentences, read the options carefully and answer each question by choosing the correct answer

Multiple Choice

How is it going with your new assistant?

• Not bad, actually. He’s on a steep learning curve, but he’s trying hard, and he’s got a lot of potential.

• Really well. We had a good turn-out, and some people said nice things about it. Whether anyone actually buys the product as a result is another question!

Multiple Choice

How was your business trup? When did you get back?

• It was useful, but really exhausting. I just got back on Tuesday, so I’m still trying to get back on top of my inbox. But I’m glad I went. I made a few potentially useful contacts.

• Ah, nothing, really. Nothing ever changes! Busy as usual.

Multiple Choice

Have you heard back from that potential big customer yet?

• Yes, they emailed us this morning with an order for 500 units, so it looks like it’s all going ahead. Very exciting.

• Next week, hopefully, but they’re still not happy with our service charges, so it might still all fall through

Multiple Choice

When do you think they will finally sign the contract?

• Yes, they emailed us this morning with an order for 500 units, so it looks like it’s all going ahead. Very exciting.

• Next week, hopefully, but they’re still not happy with our service charges, so it might still all fall through

Multiple Choice

Have you made any progress with your big project?

• A little, but it’s very slow. We’re still tied up with the financing side of things, so it doesn’t feel like we’re getting anywhere

• Absolutely! I’m giving a presentation! I’m really nervous about it, actually

​Let's Make One Conversation with your partner

​Click this link to proceed

​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lP_KoFONN6AdmOym4FMlZK3OrCMCVElwuZzfZ4UYMBc/edit?usp=sharing