In any professional environment, your ability to express your opinion, agree or disagree respectfully, and help the group reach an agreement is vital for business success.
Business meetings are not just about sharing information—they are about solving problems, making decisions, and finding the best way forward. As a B2-level English learner, mastering these skills will allow you to actively participate, influence outcomes, and demonstrate your value to your team and company.
By the end of this lesson, you will know how to:
Express your opinions clearly and professionally.
Use “hedging” language to soften your opinions and sound diplomatic.
Agree and disagree politely.
Reach consensus as a group.
Summarize discussions and decisions.
You will also learn useful vocabulary, common expressions, and practical strategies for making your communication more effective in every business meeting.
Let’s start by exploring some essential vocabulary and expressions you’ll need.
Opinion (noun): /əˈpɪnjən/ – What you think or believe about something.
Example: “In my opinion, we should invest more in digital marketing.”
Consensus (noun): /kənˈsensəs/ – A general agreement among a group.
Example: “We need to reach a consensus before moving forward.”
Hedge (verb/noun): /hedʒ/ – To avoid giving a strong or definite answer, often to be polite or careful.
Example: “We might want to consider a different supplier.”
Diplomatic (adjective): /ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk/ – Saying things in a way that does not upset or offend others.
Example: “She was very diplomatic when she disagreed with the proposal.”
Disagree (verb): /ˌdɪsəˈɡriː/ – To have a different opinion from someone else.
Example: “I’m afraid I have to disagree.”
Summarize (verb): /ˈsʌməraɪz/ – To state the most important points again.
Example: “Let me summarize our main points.”
In meetings, you need to share your ideas and opinions, but it’s important to do so in a way that’s both clear and polite.
Here are some common expressions for giving your opinion in a business context:
Direct opinion phrases:
“In my opinion, …”
“I think (that)…”
“I believe (that)…”
“From my point of view, …”
“As I see it, …”
“To my mind, …”
“If you ask me, …”
Examples:
“In my opinion, we should focus on customer satisfaction.”
“I think that this proposal will help us increase sales.”
“From my point of view, the current plan is too ambitious.”
Definitions:
Ambitious (adjective): /æmˈbɪʃəs/ – Having a strong desire to be successful or achieve something.
Nuance Tip:
Use these direct phrases when you feel confident or when your opinion is supported by data or experience.
Sometimes, being too direct can sound rude or too forceful—especially in multicultural teams or sensitive discussions.
Hedging language helps you soften your opinions and make your statements more diplomatic. This is crucial for showing respect for others’ ideas, even if you disagree.
Hedging phrases:
“It seems to me that…”
“I would suggest that…”
“Perhaps we could consider…”
“It might be a good idea to…”
“I tend to think that…”
“We could possibly…”
Examples:
“It seems to me that our timeline is a bit too tight.”
“Perhaps we could consider a different approach.”
“I would suggest that we collect more data before deciding.”
Definitions:
Approach (noun): /əˈprəʊtʃ/ – A way of dealing with something.
Tip:
Hedging is especially important when giving feedback, making suggestions, or discussing controversial topics.
Agreeing with others is a key part of building team spirit and moving discussions forward.
There are many ways to show agreement in business English, from strong support to mild agreement.
Strong agreement:
“I completely agree.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
“That’s exactly how I see it.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
Mild agreement:
“I agree to a certain extent.”
“That makes sense to me.”
“You have a point there.”
“That’s a valid point.”
Examples:
“I couldn’t agree more with your suggestion to review our pricing strategy.”
“That makes sense to me, especially given our current resources.”
Definitions:
Extent (noun): /ɪkˈstent/ – The degree to which something is the case.
Valid (adjective): /ˈvælɪd/ – Based on good reasons or evidence.
Disagreement is natural—and often necessary—in business meetings.
However, how you disagree makes a big difference. The key is to remain respectful and constructive.
Polite disagreement phrases:
“I see your point, but…”
“I understand where you’re coming from, however…”
“I’m not sure I agree with that.”
“With respect, I have a different view.”
“I appreciate your input, but I have some reservations.”
“I’m afraid I don’t see it that way.”
Examples:
“I see your point, but I think we need more information before making a decision.”
“With respect, I have a different view on the budget proposal.”
Definitions:
Reservation (noun): /ˌrezəˈveɪʃn/ – A feeling of doubt or uncertainty about something.
Input (noun): /ˈɪnpʊt/ – Ideas or information contributed to a discussion.
Tip:
Always start with a positive or acknowledging phrase before stating your disagreement. This shows you are listening and value the other person’s perspective.
Consensus is when everyone in the group agrees, at least to a certain extent, on a decision or course of action.
Meetings often require the group to find common ground.
Phrases for building consensus:
“So, are we all in agreement?”
“Does everyone agree with this proposal?”
“Can we reach a consensus on this point?”
“Let’s try to find a solution that works for everyone.”
“Is everyone happy with this decision?”
“If there are no objections, can we move forward?”
Examples:
“Can we reach a consensus on the deadline for the project?”
“If everyone agrees, let’s move forward with the new supplier.”
Definitions:
Objection (noun): /əbˈdʒekʃn/ – A reason for opposing or disagreeing.
Move forward (phrasal verb): To proceed or continue with the next step.
Summarizing is essential for clarity and ensuring everyone leaves the meeting with the same understanding.
Phrases for summarizing:
“To summarize, we’ve agreed to…”
“Let me just recap the main points.”
“In summary, our next steps are…”
“So, just to sum up, we will…”
Examples:
“To summarize, we’ve agreed to review the proposal and meet again next week.”
“Just to sum up, our main priorities are customer feedback and market research.”
Definitions:
Recap (verb): /ˈriːkæp/ – To repeat the main points.
Priority (noun): /praɪˈɒrəti/ – Something that is more important than other things.
Let’s see how all of these expressions work in context.
Below are sample meeting dialogues you can use for practice and reference.
Dialogue 1: Expressing Opinions and Using Hedging Language
Facilitator: What do you all think about extending the project deadline?
Ana: In my opinion, we need more time to complete the quality checks.
Ben: I agree. I think that would help us deliver a better product.
Clara: I see your point, but I’m not sure if our clients will accept a delay.
Ana: Perhaps we could consider delivering the core features first, and then the rest in a second phase?
Facilitator: That’s a good suggestion. Let’s discuss the pros and cons of this approach.
Analysis:
Notice the use of “In my opinion,” “I agree,” “I see your point, but…”, and “Perhaps we could consider…”
Dialogue 2: Agreeing, Disagreeing, and Reaching Consensus
Manager: Do we all agree to implement the new marketing strategy?
Liam: I completely agree.
Priya: I agree to a certain extent, but I think we need to invest more in online advertising.
Oliver: With respect, I have a different view. I believe our current strategy is working well.
Manager: Thank you for your input. Can we find a solution that works for everyone?
Analysis:
Strong and mild agreement, polite disagreement, and consensus-building language are all present.
Dialogue 3: Summarizing a Discussion
Team Lead: Let me summarize our discussion. We’ve agreed to launch the new product in September, but we still need to finalize the marketing budget. Are there any objections?
Team: No objections.
Team Lead: Great. In summary, Ana will prepare the launch timeline, and Ben will present a revised budget next week.
Analysis:
Clear summary, checking for objections, and confirming action points.
Let’s go deeper into hedging.
Hedging is not just about being polite—it can protect you from being wrong, show openness, and allow space for other ideas. It’s a common feature in professional English.
More examples of hedging language:
“It appears that sales have slowed this quarter.”
“I would guess that our competitors are using a similar strategy.”
“There could be several reasons for the drop in revenue.”
Definitions:
Revenue (noun): /ˈrevənjuː/ – Income, especially for a company.
Tip:
Overusing hedges can make you sound uncertain, so balance them with clear statements when you are confident.
Cultural background often influences how people give opinions, agree, or disagree. In some cultures, direct disagreement is avoided; in others, it is expected.
Always aim for clarity and respect, and be aware of non-verbal communication (tone, body language).
Expressions to keep things positive:
“That’s an interesting perspective.”
“I appreciate your point of view.”
“Let’s look at all the options.”
Definitions:
Perspective (noun): /pəˈspektɪv/ – A way of thinking about something.
Option (noun): /ˈɒpʃən/ – A choice or possibility.
To sound even more natural and sophisticated, try some of these phrases:
For strong support:
“I fully support this idea.”
“There’s a lot of merit in your suggestion.”
For cautious disagreement:
“I see what you mean, but there are a few points we might want to reconsider.”
“While I understand the reasoning, I’m concerned about…”
For compromise:
“Maybe we can meet halfway.”
“Is there a middle ground we could agree on?”
Definitions:
Merit (noun): /ˈmerɪt/ – The good qualities of something.
Compromise (noun/verb): /ˈkɒmprəmaɪz/ – An agreement where both sides give up something to reach a solution.
Exercise 1: Practice Giving Your Opinion
Choose a current business topic. Prepare and say your opinion, using both direct and hedged forms.
Exercise 2: Agreeing and Disagreeing
With a partner, role-play a discussion. Practice agreeing strongly, agreeing partially, disagreeing politely, and finding consensus.
Exercise 3: Summarizing a Meeting
Listen to or watch a meeting (real or recorded). Write a short summary of the key points and decisions.
Q1: How do I sound confident but not rude when giving my opinion?
A: Combine clear opinion phrases with hedging language. For example: “In my opinion, this approach could work, but we might want to gather more data first.”
Q2: What if I strongly disagree with someone?
A: Be polite and diplomatic. Start with an acknowledging phrase, then express your view: “I see your point, but from my perspective, there are some risks involved.”
Q3: How do I make sure everyone is included in reaching agreement?
A: Ask for input: “Does anyone else have thoughts on this?” or “Let’s hear from others before we decide.”
Q4: How do I end a discussion and summarize decisions?
A: Use summarizing phrases: “To sum up, we have agreed to… Our next steps are…”
Opinion
Consensus
Hedge
Diplomatic
Summarize
Compromise
Valid
Objection
Option
Perspective
Input
Merit
Reservation
Agree to a certain extent
Meet halfway
Example sentences:
“Let’s try to reach a consensus by the end of this meeting.”
“Your suggestion has a lot of merit, but I have some reservations.”
Expressing opinions and reaching agreement are essential skills for every business professional. By practicing the language, expressions, and techniques in this lesson, you will be able to:
Speak up confidently in meetings
Support or challenge ideas diplomatically
Help your team make decisions efficiently
Build your reputation as a thoughtful, respectful communicator
Remember:
The goal is not always to agree, but to move forward together with the best solution.
Use the right mix of clarity, respect, and strategic language to become an effective voice in your professional community.