Speaking English well is one thing: knowing all of the secret business terms that British and American professionals have started using in the last few months is another! Slang, or informal words that are made up by groups of people in society, is constantly changing, which can make it very hard for a person who is learning English. Nobody wants to embarrass themselves by using a slang word that was cool ten years ago, especially in the office. Studying in an online English school isn’t enough: if you want to sound more like a native speaker, you’ll need to stay current. Add these five cutting-edge business English words to your vocabulary today!
Low-Hanging Fruit
If somebody says “low-hanging fruit,” they’re not talking about an apple or an orange. “Low-hanging fruit” refers to tasks that are easy to do. You might be encouraged to pursue a “low-hanging fruit” task when you start your new career, as a confidence boost. And of course, thanks to all the hard work you’ve done improving your business English skills, we know you’ll do a great job at it.
Deep Dive
No SCUBA tank required for this one! “Deep dive” is another phrase that has become increasingly more common in 2021. Not surprisingly, it refers to immersing yourself into a task. A “deep dive” usually entails taking the time to spend a lot of time researching or examining a subject. More commonly, you’ll be researching work that someone else did. “Deep dive” is a way to learn more about best practices or find out some information that may help you succeed at a task.
Agile
Agile means “able to move quickly and easily,” but in the business world it refers to a company that is able to quickly adapt to changes in the market or society. In addition, agile employees are given the power to quickly and effectively respond to customer complaints and issues. In general, being agile is a good thing!
Thought Leader
“Thought leader” is a phrase which is critically close to becoming a cliché, right along with “rockstar,” “ninja,” and “guru.” All of those were both super-overused long before “thought leader” came along! However, it’s still a very common way to describe a person “whose views on a subject are important and influential.” There are lots of real thought leaders in every subject, and a lot of people who think they’re thought leaders when they aren’t. It’s up to you to know the difference.
Pivot
According to the dictionary, “Pivot” refers to “the central point, pin, or shaft on which a mechanism turns”. However, in the business world it refers to something quite different. When you “fundamentally change direction,” you’re pivoting. Some very successful companies have done this to great success during Covid, like Best Buy and Spotify.
Verbalize Now doesn’t just want to be your online business English school, we want to be your personal business English teacher. We’re your source for the super useful phrases that are going to set you apart in a job interview or on your first day in the office. Our online English classes are dedicated to teaching you the most important phrases that will improve your English right away. Improving your English is just the first step to a better job and a better life, and helping you do that is what we’re all about.
