[Getting started]
Leading or simply opening a meeting in English can seem difficult when you are just starting out, especially if you lack vocabulary or fluency. However, you don't need to be bilingual to express yourself well in this context. A few simple, structured phrases will help you start a meeting in a professional, clear and confident manner.
4 steps to get started
1. Greet and welcome participants
Hello everyone/Good morning. Thank you for coming.
Hello, everyone/Hello, thank you for being here.
I hope you are all doing well.
I hope you are all well.
«Good morning» is more formal.
2. Announce the start of the meeting
Let us commence / Let us begin the meeting.
Let us begin the meeting.
Let's get started.
Let's go.
Use « Let's » to invite collectively (very common in meetings).
Avoid word-for-word translations from French such as «We start/begin now» (less natural).
3. Present the objective
Today, we shall discuss… / We shall talk about…
Today, we are discussing/will be discussing...
The purpose of this meeting is to…
The purpose of this meeting is to...
- Use the present simple or future tense with « will » to announce the topics.
- Use the contracted forms of « will » = ’I will
4. Share the agenda
Here is today's agenda.
Here is the agenda.
There are three main points to cover.
There are three main points to address.
If there is no formal agenda, simply announce the main points.
