The 4 Key Transitions in Business Communication
We are often asked which are the most important transitions in business communication. And while there are countless transitionary moments in our professional communication, we have narrowed it down to four key passages where it is important to be able to transition with ease. Below we outline those four, and set out some examples for each:
1. Moving between points
The ability to move from point to point is of critical importance because such transitions exist in many contexts: during presentations, in conversation and so on. Linguistically speaking, there are a myriad of ways to do this, with transitions including:
Moving on
Moving on to the next point
Next (on the agenda)
Looking to the next point
Following on (from that/this)
Building on this/that
On top of that
Secondly/thirdly etc
I’d now like to move on to the next part
This leads me to my next point, which is
2. When using Slides as part of a presentation
This next transition builds on the last, and uses similar language. Often, non-native speakers tell us that they struggle to do this in a natural way, and instead, they say nothing at all. To enter and exit slides, consider using any of the following:
Now, let’s look to our slides (for more on this)
Turning to the slides/slide deck
Drawing your attention to the slides
If I can bring/draw your attention to the slides
Now, I’d like to ask you to turn your attention to the slides
Now, I’d like to invite you to (take a) look at the slides
3. Going from Presentation to Q&A
When a presentation comes to a conclusion, we often observe awkwardness on the presenter’s part, when it comes to inviting questions. Generally, this transition has two sub-parts: Ending the presentation, and inviting questions. Here are some simple two-part linking expressions to conclude and lead into question time with confidence and ease:
That concludes my talk for today. So, now I’d be very interested to hear your comments.
That sums up (my overview of the new strategy). Now we have (half an hour) for questions and discussion.
Well, I’ve covered the points that I needed to present today. If you have any questions, I am happy to answer them
That brings me to the end of my presentation. I’ll gladly answer your questions now.
(Informal) Well, that’s it for me. Do you have any questions?
4. Introducing People / Switching from one presenter to another
Finally, introducing people in any context, or switching from one presenter to another, can often be fraught with awkwardness, discomfort and dis-ease. We often observe non-native speakers saying nothing at all in these contexts, making the transition more unnatural than is necessary. A few simple phrases will go a long way:
Now, I’ll pass you over to my colleague, John.
John, the floor is yours.
Now, John; over to you.
Now, I’ll hand over to John (who will discuss…)
Now I’d like to introduce you to our next speakers, John.
There are so many types of transitions in business communication, but mastering these four will certainly go a long way in helping your communication flow and have more influence. Give them a go, and be sure to let us know which additions make the biggest impact on your speech.