Meetings can be resource-heavy and time-consuming. Learn alternatives to meetings before you call a formal meeting.
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In what situations is a formal meeting not necessary?
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Have you ever invited a client or colleague for a casual meeting? What did you say?
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What types of locations are appropriate for informal business conversations?
Match the purposes to the correct phrases.
| Purpose | Casual Phrase |
|---|---|
| Quick discussion | "Let's touch base over coffee sometime this week." |
| Suggesting lunch | “Let’s find a time that works for a quick catch-up.” |
| Casual check-in | “Mind if I swing by your office for a quick chat?” |
| Drop-in visit | “Can we catch up for a quick chat tomorrow?” |
| Flexible planning | “Want to grab lunch and talk this over?” |
Look at the following situations and the phrases that follow. Put the phrases into the right situations.
| Situations | Phrases |
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You want to quickly go over key points without a full meeting. |
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You’re both attending the same event and have time after. |
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You need to discuss something but want to keep it informal. |
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You’re in the office and want to stop by for a few minutes. |
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You’re working remotely and want to avoid a full meeting. |
Phrases:
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“Let’s touch base quickly, no need for a formal sit-down.”
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“Let’s grab a coffee and brainstorm a bit.”
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“Want to talk it through over a quick coffee?”
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“Let’s find a time to chat between sessions.”
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“Can we have a quick catch-up instead of a full meeting?”
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“Maybe we can do this over email or chat?”
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“Let’s catch up briefly after the event.”
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“Let’s walk and talk if you’re free.”
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“We can just do a quick check-in—10 minutes max.”
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“Let’s keep it light—no need to block off time.”
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“Mind if I swing by your office for a quick chat?”
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“How about a brief chat to go over the key points?”
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“Let’s keep it casual and just go over the highlights.”
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“Would a quick call work instead of a meeting?”
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“Maybe we can grab a bite and go over the details?”
Context 1:
The Marketing Manager wants to schedule a formal strategy meeting to discuss partnerships with cheese and alcohol companies. The Operations Manager, however, is overwhelmed and prefers a lighter, informal discussion due to limited resources and bandwidth.
Your Role:
You're the consultant trying to coordinate between both departments. Your task is to suggest an informal way for Operations to express concerns and keep the conversation moving forward—without the pressure of a full meeting.
Goal:
Use phrases to propose an alternative to a formal meeting that still allows Marketing and Operations to share perspectives.
Context 2:
Dairy Farmers of Canada wants their label on a wide range of dairy-based products—from yogurt and cheese to protein drinks. Marketing is eager to act fast and push new partnerships. Operations feels this is unrealistic in the short term due to supply chain and regulatory issues.
Your Role (Student):
You're a consultant meeting with the client and trying to buy some time by proposing less formal, early-stage conversations with potential partners to explore feasibility without committing fully.
Goal:
Practice using phrases for proposing informal partner meetings, without triggering full-scale rollout planning.
Congratulations, you have completed our Successful Meetings in English course. Not only have you developed your English language proficiency, but you are now a meetings master.
Remember, with new learning, one needs to use it, or else one will lose it!