Many of the students to whom I teach Business English are senior people within their organisations who have to make many important and not so important decisions on a daily basis.
Itโs no wonder that one of the areas they like to explore with me in class is the different ways they can use to talk about this important part of their jobs.
So I thought Iโd put together a list of business English phrases to show you the different ways we use the word โdecisionโ and its derivatives in a business context.
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Verb: decide (not) to
- After 10 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Terry decided to change career.
- Iโve decided not to accept that job.
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Noun: decision
- I didnโt really want to leave the company, so it was a very difficult decision.
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We take or make a decision
- As Managing Director of the company, he has to take some tough decisions.
- You made a really good decision today.
After talking or thinking for a long time, you reach or come to a decision:
- After hours of discussion, they finally reached a decision.
- Iโve come to a decision. Iโm going to see the company.
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Canโt decide or havenโt decided
- They havenโt decided whether to hire a new Sales Manager yet.
- Iโm giving an important presentation tomorrow, but I canโt decide what to wear.
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Make up your mind, change your mind
Make up your mind
definitely decide on something after thinking about it carefully
- Iโve made up my mind, Iโm going to accept that job (final decision)
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Change your mind
decide something, and then decide something different
- I was going to organise a meeting for this afternoon, but Iโve changed my mind.
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We can also use keeps to or sticks to in the above context.
- He always keeps to or sticks to his decisions.
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Adjectives: a decisive โ indecisive person
- John is always changing his mind, he is so indecisive.
- I like working with James, he is so decisive and gets things done.
Try using some of these Business English phrases the next time you are in a meeting with English speakers. The more you use them, the more they will become a natural part of your Business English conversations.
Happy Decision-Making!
Thank you so much. Appreciate it.