Business English - Expressing Opinions: Agreeing and Disagreeing Politely

Activity 1: Let's Get Started! (Warm-up)

Why is it important to express your opinions respectfully in a professional setting, even when you disagree?
What are some common challenges people face when trying to disagree politely in a business meeting or discussion?
Can you recall a time when someone disagreed with an idea in a particularly effective and polite way? What did they do or say?

Activity 2: New Words & Phrases (Vocabulary)

Let's explore some essential terms and phrases for expressing opinions, agreeing, and disagreeing politely in business English.

1. Perspective (noun): A particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view.

Example: From my perspective, investing in new technology now will save us more in the long run.

2. Valid (adjective): Having a sound basis in logic or fact; reasonable or cogent.

Example: That's a valid point, and I agree we need to consider the budget implications carefully.

3. Reservations (noun, often plural): A doubt or feeling of not being able to agree with or accept something completely.

Example: I understand the proposal, but I have some reservations about the timeline; it seems quite ambitious.

4. See eye to eye (idiom): To agree with someone; to have the same opinion as someone else.

Example: While we don't always see eye to eye on every detail, we both agree on the overall project goals.

5. With all due respect (phrase): A polite phrase used before disagreeing with someone, especially someone in authority or more experienced.

Example: With all due respect, I believe there might be another way to approach this problem that could be more efficient.

Activity 3: Reading - The Strategy Meeting Debate

Read the following scenario about a team discussing different strategies and how opinions were expressed and handled.

During a strategy meeting, the marketing team was discussing how to launch a new product. Liam, the marketing manager, proposed an aggressive advertising campaign focusing heavily on social media influencers. "From my perspective," Liam stated, "this approach will quickly generate buzz and reach our target demographic effectively."

Sarah, a senior marketing specialist, listened carefully. While she saw the potential, she also had some concerns. "Liam, that's an interesting idea, and I agree that influencers can create buzz," she began. "However, I have some reservations about relying so heavily on influencers for this particular product. It might be perceived as less authentic by our core audience." Another team member, David, added, "I see Sarah's point. While the influencer strategy is valid, perhaps we could balance it with more traditional digital advertising to ensure wider reach and credibility?" Liam considered their input. "Those are valid points," he acknowledged. "It seems we don't entirely see eye to eye on the primary channel, but we all agree on the need for strong digital presence. With all due respect to the initial idea, perhaps a blended approach, as David suggested, is worth exploring further to mitigate the risks Sarah highlighted." The team then collaboratively discussed how to combine the strategies, leading to a more robust and well-rounded plan.

Comprehension Questions:

After reading the passage, answer the following questions:

What was Liam's initial proposal for the product launch?
How did Sarah express her reservations about Liam's idea while still being polite?
How did David contribute to the discussion and build upon Sarah's point?
How did Liam respond to the differing opinions, and what was the outcome of the discussion?

Activity 4: Role Play - Choosing a New Software Vendor

Read the following dialogue with a partner. One person can be Maria, and the other can be Ben, who are discussing which software vendor to choose.

Maria: So, Ben, after reviewing the proposals, I'm leaning towards Vendor A. Their features seem to align perfectly with our needs, and their pricing is competitive.

Ben: I understand your perspective, Maria. Vendor A certainly has a strong offering. However, I have a few reservations, particularly concerning their customer support reviews.

Maria: That's a valid point. I did notice some mixed reviews there. What are your thoughts on Vendor B then?

Ben: From my point of view, Vendor B, while slightly more expensive, has outstanding customer support and a more intuitive user interface. I think long-term, that might be more beneficial.

Maria: I see what you mean about the user interface; it did look very clean. But the cost difference is significant. Do you think the benefits outweigh that extra cost?

Ben: I believe so. If we encounter issues, quick and effective support can save us a lot of downtime and frustration, which has its own cost. It seems we don't quite see eye to eye on the primary deciding factor here.

Maria: Perhaps. With all due respect to your focus on support, I'm still concerned about the immediate budget impact of Vendor B.

Ben: I understand. Maybe we could ask Vendor B if they offer any flexibility on their pricing or a phased rollout to manage the cost?

Maria: That's a constructive suggestion. It's worth exploring. It shows we can find a middle ground even if our initial perspectives differ.

Ben: Exactly. The goal is to make the best decision for the team, considering all valid points.

Discuss Together:

After reading or performing the dialogue, discuss the following with a partner:

What phrases did Maria and Ben use to express their opinions and to agree or disagree politely?
How did they work towards a potential solution despite their differing initial views?

Activity 5: Let's Practice - Discussing a Project Approach

Objective: Practice expressing opinions, agreeing, and disagreeing politely using key vocabulary in a role-play setting.

Scenario: Anna and Chen are discussing a new approach for a team project. Fill in their parts of the dialogue using vocabulary from Activity 2.

Anna: "Chen, I've been thinking about the new client project. From my , I believe we should adopt a more agile methodology this time."

Chen: "That's an interesting thought, Anna. I can see some benefits to agile. However, , I have some about whether the client is prepared for that kind of iterative process."

Anna: "That's a concern. We would definitely need to manage their expectations. But the flexibility could be a big advantage."

Chen: "I agree flexibility is good. It seems we don't quite on the client's readiness, but perhaps we can propose a hybrid approach initially?"

Anna: "A hybrid approach... that could work. It might be a good way to introduce them to agile principles without a full shift. Thanks for sharing your view, Chen."

Try to fill in the blanks with the correct words or phrases from Activity 2.