English for Work & the Workplace

"agenda"

A list of topics to be discussed or acted upon at a meeting, usually circulated in advance.

"Please review the agenda before the call so we can make the most of our time together."

"action item"

A specific task assigned to a person during a meeting, with a clear owner and deadline.

"Let's wrap up — can you note down the action items before we close?"

"take the floor"

To begin speaking in a meeting or formal discussion setting.

"After the presentation, each department head will take the floor for five minutes."

"table a proposal"

In British English, to submit an idea for discussion; in American English, to postpone discussion of it.

"We'd like to table a proposal for restructuring the project timeline at tomorrow's meeting."

"minutes"

The official written record of what was discussed and decided at a meeting.

"Could you circulate the minutes from last week's meeting by end of day?"

"quorum"

The minimum number of people required to be present for a meeting to be officially valid and decisions to be made.

"We can't vote on the budget until we have a quorum — we're still waiting for three board members."

"brainstorm"

A group method for generating creative ideas freely and without initial judgment.

"Let's brainstorm some ways to reduce onboarding time before our next sprint."

"debrief"

A structured discussion held after an event or project to review what happened and extract lessons.

"We'll hold a debrief with the whole team once the product launch is complete."

"cc (carbon copy)"

Sending a copy of an email to someone who is not the primary recipient but should be informed.

"I've cc'd the project manager so she stays in the loop on our progress."

"reply all"

Responding to an email in a way that sends your reply to every person on the original recipient list.

"Before you reply all, check whether everyone on that thread actually needs your response."

"EOM (end of message)"

An abbreviation used in email subject lines to indicate that the full message is contained in the subject line itself.

"Team lunch is cancelled today. EOM"

"loop someone in"

To include a person in an email conversation or communication so they are kept informed.

"Can you loop in the legal team before we confirm the contract terms?"

"per my last email"

A phrase used to draw attention back to information already provided in a previous message.

"Per my last email, the deadline for submissions was Friday at 5 pm."

"as per our discussion"

A phrase used in written communication to refer to an agreement or point made during a conversation.

"As per our discussion, I've updated the proposal to reflect the new budget constraints."

"NRN (no reply necessary)"

An abbreviation used to signal that the recipient does not need to send a response.

"Meeting confirmed for 10 am Thursday. NRN."

"sign-off"

The closing phrase used at the end of a professional email before the sender's name.

"Using "Kind regards" as a sign-off strikes the right balance between formal and friendly."

"deliverable"

A specific, tangible output or result that must be produced as part of a project.

"The key deliverables for this phase are a written report and a working prototype."

"milestone"

A significant checkpoint or event in a project timeline that marks progress toward the final goal.

"Completing user testing is a critical milestone before we move into full development."

"scope creep"

The gradual expansion of a project's requirements beyond what was originally agreed, often without adjusting time or budget.

"We need to push back on these new requests — it's a classic case of scope creep."

"bottleneck"

A point in a process where progress slows down because of limited resources, capacity, or a dependency on another task.

"The approval process is our main bottleneck — it's delaying everything downstream."

"workaround"

A temporary solution used to bypass a problem or obstacle until a permanent fix is in place.

"We found a workaround for the software bug that should hold us over until the patch is released."

"bandwidth"

The capacity or availability of a person or team to take on additional work.

"I'd love to help, but I honestly don't have the bandwidth for another project right now."

"go live"

The moment a project, product, or system becomes active and available for its intended users.

"We're on track to go live with the new platform at the start of next quarter."

"sign off"

To give official approval or formal agreement that something is complete and acceptable.

"The client needs to sign off on the final design before we begin development."

"constructive criticism"

Feedback that identifies areas for improvement while also suggesting how to make those improvements.

"The manager offered constructive criticism that helped the team improve their presentation skills."

"areas for development"

Aspects of a person's skills or performance that have been identified as needing improvement.

"Your areas for development this year are public speaking and time management."

"exceed expectations"

To perform better than the standard or level that was anticipated.

"She consistently exceeds expectations — I'd strongly recommend her for the senior role."

"stretch goal"

An ambitious target set beyond normal performance levels to inspire higher achievement.

"We set a stretch goal of 20% growth, knowing 12% would already be considered a strong result."

"put on a PIP"

Informal term for placing an employee on a Performance Improvement Plan, a formal process to address underperformance.

"He was put on a PIP after three consecutive quarters of missed targets."

"self-assessment"

A process in which an employee evaluates their own performance, skills, and achievements before a formal review.

"Please complete your self-assessment by the end of the week so we can prepare for your appraisal."

"track record"

A person's or organisation's history of past achievements and performance.

"She has an excellent track record of delivering complex projects on time and within budget."

"line manager"

The person who directly supervises an employee on a day-to-day basis and is responsible for their performance.

"Speak to your line manager first if you have concerns about your workload."

"career ladder"

The progression of roles within an organisation or profession, each with increasing responsibility and pay.

"The company has a clear career ladder so employees know exactly what's required to reach the next level."

"lateral move"

A job change that involves moving to a different role at roughly the same level, rather than a promotion.

"She made a lateral move into marketing to broaden her skill set before aiming for a senior position."

"networking"

The process of building and maintaining professional relationships that can lead to career opportunities or information sharing.

"Attending industry events is one of the most effective forms of networking for early-career professionals."

"elevator pitch"

A short, persuasive summary of yourself or your idea that can be delivered in the time it takes to ride an elevator.

"Practise your elevator pitch so you can clearly explain your value to anyone you meet at a conference."

"transferable skills"

Abilities and competencies that can be applied across different jobs, industries, or roles.

"Her transferable skills in data analysis made her a strong candidate despite the industry change."

"headhunted"

To be approached by a recruiter or employer for a specific role, usually without having applied.

"After publishing her research, she was headhunted by three major consultancy firms."

"notice period"

The amount of time an employee must work after resigning or being dismissed before leaving their role.

"My notice period is three months, so I can't start a new role before July."

"references"

People who can provide a written or verbal assessment of your professional abilities and character to a potential employer.

"Please provide the names and contact details of two professional references when you submit your application."

"workplace culture"

The shared values, behaviours, attitudes, and practices that characterise how an organisation and its people operate.

"The startup's workplace culture emphasises autonomy and open communication over hierarchy."

"team player"

Someone who works cooperatively and supportively with others rather than focusing solely on individual achievement.

"We're looking for a team player who can collaborate across departments and share credit for success."

"micromanagement"

A management style in which a supervisor controls every small detail of an employee's work, often reducing morale and creativity.

"Staff turnover increased after the new director's micromanagement approach stifled independent decision-making."

"office politics"

The informal power relationships and self-serving behaviours within an organisation that influence decision-making.

"Learning to navigate office politics tactfully is just as important as being technically competent."

"work-life balance"

The equilibrium between the time and energy spent on professional duties and personal life.

"Remote working has improved work-life balance for many employees, but also blurred the boundary between home and office."

"psychological safety"

A shared belief within a team that it is safe to speak up, take risks, and make mistakes without fear of punishment or humiliation.

"Teams with high psychological safety are more innovative because members aren't afraid to challenge assumptions."

"toxic workplace"

A work environment characterised by negativity, bullying, poor communication, or unethical behaviour that harms employee wellbeing.

"She resigned after eighteen months, citing a toxic workplace that left her experiencing severe anxiety."

"buy-in"

The agreement and commitment of stakeholders or team members to support a decision, plan, or change.

"Before rolling out the new system, make sure you have buy-in from all department heads."