In a business meeting, there are two situations in which people often run into difficulties. These are when you want to interrupt someone who is speaking, for whatever reason, and when you are asked to comment on something you don’t want to comment on (either because you don’t have enough information to give your opinion, or because you don’t wish to speak for your own reasons).
If you need to interrupt, here are some phrases you may find helpful (and remember to consider your timing when using them, too!):
| Do you mind if I interrupt? I must just say that... Just a minute... May I add something here? May I interrupt here? May I just say something on that point? |
Or use that wonderful word, “sorry”:
| Sorry, I must just point out that... Sorry, could I interrupt a moment? Sorry, but I must say that... Sorry, could I just say something? |
“Sorry” makes an interruption of a meeting a little more polite.
But to avoid making a comment on an issue, “I’m afraid” works better:
Using “I’m afraid” is better here than “I’m sorry”, as “I’m sorry” puts the blame on you and indicates that it is your fault, while “I’m afraid” just indicates that you may feel some regret, but it is not necessarily your fault.
Other options include:
| Do you mind if we talk about that later? Can we put it off until later? I don’t think there’s any point in going into detail at this stage. That information isn’t available yet, but we could talk about it... (give date or time) I’d rather not say. (simple & direct, but honest) |
Practice Exercise
Complete the following sentences using the words/phrases in bold.
add Do you mind I’d rather I’m afraid if I interrupt if you don’t mind interrupt May I just say something Sorry
1) May I _________________ something, here?
2) _________________ I can’t comment on that until I check with our suppliers.
3) _________________, I must just point out that Ms Richards is not on the committee anymore.
4) May I _________________, here?
5) I’m afraid I’d rather not go into detail here, _________________.
6) _________________ if we talk about that later?
7) Do you mind _________________? I think you may have got your figures mixed up.
8) _________________ not say.
9) _________________ something on that point?
10) Sorry, could I just say _________________?
Answers
1) May I add something, here?
2) I’m afraid I can’t comment on that until I check with our suppliers.
3) Sorry, I must just point out that Ms Richards is not on the committee anymore.
4) May I interrupt, here?
5) I’m afraid I’d rather not go into detail here, if you don’t mind.
6) Do you mind if we talk about that later?
7) Do you mind if I interrupt? I think you may have got your figures mixed up.
8) I’d rather not say.
9) May I just say something on that point?
10) Sorry, could I just say something?