How to Pitch your Idea in a Meeting

In this shadow/mirroring workshop, your team will engage in a series of scenarios that involve best practices in introductory greetings, overcoming objections, and pitching their ideas to management and potential clients.

Your workshop is hands-on and activity-based; there will be minimal teaching and will be primarily hands-on role-play. Each workshop is delivered in English. The teaching portion will take place with sessions to teach the language of business and most used phrases, conversation plow, and how to respond within the conversation when using English.

Vocabulary That will be learned in this workshop.

To pitch something (an idea, a proposal): to promote or present something. For example, “I’m going to be pitching our new design service at the printing conference.”

To keep it short: to attempt to speak very briefly. For example, “I’m afraid that we have to keep it short today because we have to catch an early flight.”

On my mind: thinking about something a lot. “I’ve got a lot of things on my mind and can’t concentrate on my work.”

Red flag: a signal that something is wrong. “I’ve learned that a buildup of product at the crating area is a red flag that someone is slacking off, and it’s usually the new guy.”

To be hit with to be affected by an adverse event. For example, “We’ve been hit with a 7% increase in costs due to exchange rate fluctuations.”

A severe blow: an adverse event. “The loss of our head researcher to a competitor is a serious blow to the R & D department.”

To be stretched (to the limit): to have no time or energy left. “He’s stretched to the limit already with all the new projects, and there’s no way he can be expected to put in more time.”

To tear your hair out: to be frustrated. For example, “I’m ready to tear my hair out over their lack of cooperation.”

To be in the same boat: to be in the same (complex) situation. “Since we’re all in the same boat, we should try to co-operate and resolve the problems together instead of criticizing each other.”

Point taken: a phrase used to indicate that the speaker accepts what somebody has said. “Point taken. I agree that we have mismanaged this opportunity.”

Setback: a defeat or adverse event. “We’ve managed to overcome the many setbacks we experienced when we first opened branches abroad and are on our way to becoming the market leader in our sector.”

Value-add/Value-added: the value added to a product or service at each stage of its production. “We’re targeting value-added furniture production, but until we can train enough skilled workers, we ship the raw wood abroad.”

The throw-in something: give as a gift. “I can throw in a free webcam if you buy this laptop today.”

Easy does it: an expression meaning “calm down” or “go slowly.” “Easy does it. You’ll get an ulcer if you get angry so often.”

Nuts and bolts: the basics. “The idea is to divest ourselves of non-core business and return to our nuts-and-bolts product line.”

Off-the-shelf: standard. “We don’t need any special parts, just ordinary off-the-shelf computer chips that you can buy anywhere.”

Whoa: an expression that means “slow down,” which was initially used to control horses. “Whoa. Did I hear you correctly? Can you repeat that, please?” Revamp: to update to current standards. “We revamped the logistics network, and now order fulfillment happens overnight.”

Got to: slang abbreviation of “have (got) to.” “We’ve got to be ready to meet with their team at 9 am.”

To be kidding: to joke around. “He was kidding when he said we were going to be laid off; it wasn’t true at all.”

I kid you not: a fixed expression meaning “I’m not kidding.” “I kid you not. He was so tall he had to stick his head out of the car door!”