How to Agree and Disagree in Business Meetings

Clear communication in meetings isn’t about sounding impressive.
It’s about sounding competent, composed, and credible, especially when you agree or disagree.

Many professionals speak good English but still struggle in meetings because they rely on:

• overly direct phrases,

• overly soft language,

• or expressions that sound emotional rather than professional.

This short guide focuses on real expressions used daily by experienced professionals in meetings, presentations, and decision-making conversations.

No theory.
No memorisation.
Just language you can use as it is.

10 Ways to AGREE (Professionally)

1. “I agree with that.”
   Simple, direct, neutral.
   Example: “I agree with that. It aligns with our current priorities.”

2. “That makes sense.”
   Shows understanding, not submission.
   Example: “That makes sense, especially given the timeline.”

3. “I’m aligned with this approach.”
   Common in corporate settings.
   Example: “I’m aligned with this approach from a delivery standpoint.”

4. “I see the value in that.”
   Signals judgment, not emotion.
   Example: “I see the value in that, particularly for the client.”

5. “I support this direction.”
   Stronger than “agree.”
   Example: “I support this direction and think it’s scalable.”

6. “That matches my understanding as well.”
   Collaborative tone.
   Example: “That matches my understanding as well.”

7. “I think this is the right move.”
   Confident but not aggressive.
   Example: “I think this is the right move at this stage.”

8. “I’m comfortable with this proposal.”
   Often used in decision-making.
   Example: “I’m comfortable with this proposal moving forward.”

9. “I don’t see any issues with that.”
   Signals approval without enthusiasm.
   Example: “I don’t see any issues with that from my side.”

10. “This works for me.”
    Neutral and efficient.
    Example: “This works for me. Let’s proceed.”

10 Ways to DISAGREE (Professionally)

11. “I see it differently.”
    Calm, non-confrontational.
    Example: “I see it differently based on the data we have.”

12. “I’m not sure this approach gets us the result we want.”
    Focuses on outcome, not people.
    Example: “I’m not sure this approach gets us the result we want.”

13. “There may be another way to look at this.”
    Soft disagreement.
    Example: “There may be another way to look at this.”

14. “I have a different perspective.”
    Neutral and widely accepted.
    Example: “I have a different perspective from an operational point of view.”

15. “I’d like to challenge that assumption.”
    Used by senior professionals.
    Example: “I’d like to challenge that assumption.”

16. “I’m not fully convinced yet.”
    Signals openness, not resistance.
    Example: “I’m not fully convinced yet. Can we look at alternatives?”

17. “I see some risks with this option.”
    Objective and responsible.
    Example: “I see some risks with this option in the long term.”

18. “I’d suggest we reconsider this.”
    Polite but firm.
    Example: “I’d suggest we reconsider this before finalising.”

19. “That’s not how I see it.”
    Direct but still professional.
    Example: “That’s not how I see it, based on recent feedback.”

20. “I’m concerned about this direction.”
    Strong but appropriate when needed.
    Example: “I’m concerned about this direction from a resource perspective.”

Final note

Using professional English in meetings is not about being perfect.
It’s about making small language choices that influence how others perceive your judgment, confidence, and seniority.

If you found this useful, feel free to share it with colleagues or team members who work in English and attend meetings regularly.

This is exactly the kind of practical communication MilePal focuses on;
language that works in real professional situations.

"MilePal"