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Negotiations/Business talks 1

A vocabulary exercise covering the language of presentations and professional talks. These terms are used by speakers and audiences alike in business conference and meeting settings.



💬 Useful phrases
“I'd like to start by giving you a brief overview.” — a standard opening to orient the audience before the main content
“Moving on to my next point...” — a transition phrase connecting one section of a presentation to the next
“As I mentioned earlier...” — referencing a point previously made to reinforce or connect ideas
“The data clearly shows that...” — introducing evidence to support a claim or argument
“To put this in perspective...” — providing context to help the audience understand the significance of information
“Are there any questions so far?” — an invitation to pause and check comprehension or invite clarification
“Let me illustrate this with an example.” — signaling that a concrete example is about to be given
“In conclusion, I'd like to highlight three key takeaways.” — introducing a final summary of the most important points


READY TO PRACTICE? LET’S GO!

Choose the correct response to complete each sentence.



1. To arrange/have talks = To __________________________ talks
  hope
  hold
  take

2. After the last __________________________ ( = series) of talks, they agreed to two of our requirements.
  roundabout
  circle
  round

3. There are still a __________________________ of issues ( = many issues) that we have to resolve.
  digit
  number
  figure

4. The person who works for another company but does the same job as you can be referred to as your __________________________ at that company.
  counterpart
  counterfeit
  counter

5. We have to __________________________ ( = resolve) these differences as soon as possible.
  iron out
  iron
  iron through

6. When one speaks of __________________________ differences, one is saying that there are substantial differences in the negotiating parties' positions.
  hollow
  expanded
  deep

7. The atmosphere was __________________________. = Everyone was friendly/polite to each other.
  cordial
  deep
  opinionated

8. The __________________________ ( = final statement made to journalists) stated that the parties failed to reach an agreement.
  communique
  community
  disagreement

9. If the atmosphere of a meeting is described as __________________________, it means it's quite formal.
  back-to-business
  businesslike
  friendly

10. Which one of these terms does NOT mean "negotiations"?
  discussions
  talks
  counterparts


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VOCABULARY REVIEW: Business negotiations

Need to review common terms relating to (and used in) business negotiations? We've got you covered!

Negotiation
Definition:
Negotiation is a discussion between two or more parties aimed at reaching a mutually acceptable agreement.v Example:
The negotiation lasted several weeks before both sides agreed on the price.

Bargaining position
Definition:
A bargaining position is the level of power or advantage a party has in a negotiation.
Example:
The supplier had a strong bargaining position due to high demand.

Leverage
Definition:
Leverage is the ability to influence the outcome of a negotiation by using advantages such as alternatives, resources, or information.
Example:
Having multiple offers gave the company more leverage.

BATNA (best alternative to a negotiated agreement)
Definition:
BATNA is the best option a party has if the negotiation fails.
Example:
Knowing her BATNA helped her negotiate more confidently.

Concession
Definition:
A concession is something one party agrees to give up in order to move toward an agreement.
Example:
The buyer made a concession by accepting a longer delivery time.

Compromise
Definition:
A compromise is an agreement where both sides give up something to reach a solution.
Example:
They reached a compromise on pricing and contract length.

Deadlock
Definition:
A deadlock occurs when negotiations stop because neither side will change its position.
Example:
The talks ended in deadlock over payment terms.

Counteroffer
Definition:
A counteroffer is a response to an offer that proposes different terms.
Example:
The seller made a counteroffer with a higher price.

Terms and conditions
Definition:
Terms and conditions are the detailed rules and requirements of an agreement.
Example:
The lawyer reviewed the terms and conditions before signing.

Win-win outcome
Definition:
A win-win outcome is a result where all parties feel they have benefited.
Example:
Flexible payment terms created a win-win outcome.


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