Useful expressions for making business contacts: welcoming visitors to your company, introducing yourself and others in English, responding to greetings. 7 exemplary conversations with audio
Skills for Making Business Contacts
Making first business contacts in English could be a real challenge for language learners. Below are 7 short business conversations between company hosts and guests. Together with this real life English, when meeting new people remember to smile, make a firm handshake and keep eye contact. To excel in making business contacts, practice active listening, emotional intelligence and empathy.
Meeting and Greeting
Conversation 1:
Executives: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to our company!
Visitors: Hello! Thank you! We’re delighted to be here today!
Conversation 2:
Executive: Good afternoon, Mr Guest and welcome to BizTalk company!
Visitor: Hello! Glad to meet you!
Conversation 3:
Executive: Hello! Welcome to our office! This way please!
Visitors: Good morning! Thanks a lot! It’s so nice to be here!
Conversation 4:
Executive: Hello Mr Roberts! Welcome to Hong Kong! I hope you had a nice trip!
Mr Roberts: Hello Mr Cheng! How nice to see you again!
Introducing Yourself and Others
Situation 1:
Executive: Let me introduce the members of the group to you! My name is Dmitry Gorelov, and these are my colleagues, Mikhail Petrov and Natalia Volkova.
Visitor: Nice to meet you! My name’s David Thomas.
Mikhail: How do you do?
Natalia: Happy to meet you!
Situation 2:
Executive: I’m Paul Rogers, Head of Sales Department at BizTalk. This is my assistant, Jenny Barns.
Visitor: Pleased to meet you! I’m Jessica Thornton.
Jenny: Hello Jessica! Glad to meet you, too!
Situation 3:
Executive: Let me introduce myself, I’m Sarah Goodwill. This is my assistant, Anna Dunne.
Visitor: It’s a pleasure to meet you! My name’s Olaf Svensson.
Anna: Hello Mr Svensson! Nice to meet you!
Making Business Contacts: Conversation Questions
- How often do you meet new people in business? Do you like making new business contacts?
- Do you like networking and socialising? What is the difference between networking and socialising?
- What can you do to make people feel comfortable in a new place when you meet them?
Written by Elena Rudaya
