Choose one of the words or expressions that you know or think you can guess the meaning of and explain what it means without using any of the words in that box until your partner guesses which one it is.
| Digressions/ Rambling | One to one | Stick to the point | Insist |
| Compromise | Agenda | Minutes | Notes |
| Kick off | Get the ball rolling | Action points | Small talk/ Chit chat |
| Pointless/ Waste of time | Minute-taker | Tactful/ Diplomatic | Venue |
| Productive/ Worthwhile | AGM/ Annual meeting | Interrupt | Split vote |
| Casting vote | Unanimous | Quorum | A show of hands |
| PowerPoint (slide) | Laser pointer | A.O.B | Chair/ chairman/ chairperson |
| Deadlock | Win-win (solution) | Sticking point | To haggle/ bargain |
| Verbal contract/ Oral contract | Binding contract | Employment contract | Bargaining power |
| Non-negotiable | Outstanding issue | Regular meeting | Counter-proposal |
| Bring forward | Postpone | Action minutes | Concession |
| Goodwill gesture | Renegotiate | Fallback position | Supplier |
| Face to face | Teleconference | Video conference | Board room |
| Informal meeting | Toilet/ Fag/ Coffee break | Consensus | Ultimatum |
| Bluff | Final offer | Overrun | Item (on the agenda) |
| Finalize | Brainstorm | Brief | Overview |
| Objective(s)/ Aim(s) | Common ground | Introductions | Participant |
| Persuade/ Persuasive | Recap | (Final) decision/ Decisive | Reconvene |
| Longwinded | Board meeting | Absent | Attend |
What’s the difference between each pair of words below?
Argument/ Discussion
Agenda/ Diary
Minutes/ Notes
A note/ A memo
Try to answer the questions below with vocabulary from above or any other words and expressions you know:
What’s the opposite of the word or words below?
Digressions/ Rambling
Start the meeting
Decisive
Attend a meeting
Worthwhile
Soften your position/ Compromise
Face to face
Which of the words and expressions above are relevant to your own experience of meetings and negotiations? Which ones are likely to be more relevant in the future? Try to make sentences which are true for both you and your partner.
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PDF version for easy printing: 5. Meetings and negotiations vocabulary definitions game
