How to Agree and Disagree at Work : English Speaking Conversation Practice - UK & US

hello hello everybody Welcome highlevel listeners we're back with a new speaking practice episode agreeing and disagreeing at work have you ever wondered how do I politely tell my colleagues that I don't agree with them or have you ever stayed quiet at work or in a meeting because you didn't quite know how to share your opinion do you find yourself simply saying yes or no to your co-workers and want something a bit more natural well that is exactly what we're going to show you today we're going to teach you some really really useful phrases and expressions

that you can use to both agree and disagree politely and clearly at work almost all of these phrases are used in both American and British English so you can feel confident using them in both places and in both accents yes that's right today we're very excited to help you communicate more honestly with your colleagues without seeming rude or too direct or unprofessional at all my name's Mark I'm the British voice here on high Lev listening and together with cat from the USA we're going to help you agree and disagree with your co-workers in high level

English so as a quick reminder before we begin we always put subtitles on our videos but if you also want a PDF transcript of this episode as a downloadable file that you can take offline and study at your own pace you can join us as a highlevel listening member here on YouTube there are details about joining as a member in the description below so in this video we'll go through a range of words and phrases starting with strongly agreeing with colleagues going through to strongly disagreeing with them after each word and phrase there'll be a

short dialogue so you can hear how this phrase sounds in a real conversation let's get started all of these next phrases are for when you strongly agree with a colleague or they say something and you think it's a good idea absolutely absolutely absolutely absolutely now here's a quick conversation well I just think it would be better if we get started tomorrow absolutely let's get started early tomorrow phrase number two exactly exactly exactly exactly here's a short dialogue using exactly the boss has lots of good ideas but he just never follows through with the exactly I

never know if I should start planning things or just wait until he forgets phrase number three 100% agree 100% agree 100% agree 100% agree here's a quick conversation it might be nice to start the meetings with a quick recap of the previous meeting yeah I 100 % agree I'll send everyone an email and let them know phrase number four I couldn't agree more I could not I couldn't agree more I couldn't agree more I couldn't agree more here's a little dialogue I feel like it would be better if we had a 30 minute break instead

of a 20-minute break I couldn't agree more we could all use a longer break so this next set of phrases will be useful short phrases when your friend or coworker is making some points that you agree with but you don't want to stop them talking and you don't want to interrupt them in British and American working culture sometimes being silent can seem like you don't agree or maybe you don't understand so these these little phrases will show that you're still listening you still understand and you still agree the first one sure sure I always pair

this with a little nod sure sure sure sure H sure sure I'm still listening I like this one because I think we do have a different pronunciation I would say sure sure I say sure sure right like the C sure sure the next one of course of course and this is a nod but it's also oh of course of course of course of course yeah yeah yeah yeah now this is an interesting one it's a and a h uhhuh uh-huh I think this is the least formal one for me uh uh-huh uh-huh uh-uh is no

and UHA is yes UHA uhuh yeah uhhuh right oh right yeah right yeah right right so I really like all of those because I'm not going to stop you from talking I'm just letting you know that I'm listening oh yeah uhhuh right right mhm sure sure so these are all common little words and phrases that we use to make sure that the other person knows we're still talking especially when you're on the phone these are great because if you don't talk to me on the phone hello are you there so you need to say these

things uhhuh of course sure right now you don't have to say all of them all the time but usually after a point or two Mark might be talking saying a few things there's a small break right yes sure of course right so these are great for those little filler words to agree with someone if you do have the opportunity to confirm and talk a bit more and you need a little bit longer sentences these would be some great phrases that's a good point that's a really good point that's a good point that's a really good

point here's a little dialogue with that phrase I just think this is more important and we should start here do you know what I mean h that's a really good point I totally agree our next phrase that makes a lot of sense that makes a lot of sense we're saying that it's logical that makes a lot of sense that makes a lot of sense yeah that makes a lot of sense I understand and I like your idea so here's a quick conversation so I switched up these two things to make it easier for everybody that

makes a lot of sense yeah it'll be easier in the future thanks all right our next phrase I see what you mean I see what you mean I see what you mean ah I see what you mean here's a quick conversation it's that I don't like the new logo it just doesn't make me think of our business yeah I see what you mean we can try something different the next phrase I feel the same way I feel the same way good for emotions and feelings I feel the same way yeah I feel the same way

here's a quick dialogue uh I'm not really sure I like the new office yet I feel the same way it has some nice spaces but I'm still getting used to it another section of agreeing is when we're thinking the same thing sometimes by coincidence a coworker or a colleague or a friend says something almost exact ly that you wanted to say this happens quite a bit so these are some good phrases to tell them that you agree because we're thinking the same thing number one that's what I was about to say that's what I was

going to say that's what I was about to say that's what I was going to say here's a little dialogue with that phrase the first version of the app was okay okay but honestly I still think it needs more work that's what I was going to say in a few more weeks I think it'll look great here's another one very similar that's what I was thinking that's what I was thinking that's what I was thinking that's what I was thinking yeah now here's a quick conversation I like the room but it would be nicer with

a few more pieces yeah that's what I was thinking I'll get started on that okay now this includes a good phrase we're on the same page which means we have the same opinion we agree so here's our phrase we're definitely on the same page here we're definitely on the same page here we're definitely on the same page here yes we're definitely on the same page here here's a quick dialogue uh I took a look at that report and we're definitely on the same page here so let's go ahead and get started great looking forward to

working with you now here's a phrase that Mark agreed is mostly American I'm not sure if it's it's the South part of the United States but we definitely love this phrase now we call this a fixed phrase because we don't usually change any of these words you took the words right out of my mouth you took the words right out of my mouth so I use this sometimes when wow you said exactly what I wanted to say the words were here and you took them right out of my mouth so um Mark is going to

be a part of the conversation but as an American we use this phrase more often so Mark will start well I was thinking we'd finish up this meeting a little early everyone's been working hard and we can finish this tomorrow you took the words right out of my mouth let's wrap this up see you tomorrow all right our final little phrase which I like is actually just a single word and it's a fun and informal way that we can use to joke or tease when two people say exactly the same thing at the same time

we use the word Jinx j i NX Jinx and it's just kind of a funny thing so Mark will'll start we'll try to say it at the same time okay uh that man from HR what's his name again John Jonathan jinx yeah his name is Jonathan so it's kind of a competition the first you have to say it first right if I say jinx first then I win uh if you say it first then I lose it's like a race to say it first I I would say yes you can use this with co-workers and

colleagues but ones that you're kind of friends with uh because I think it can be seen as a little immature if your boss is a very serious person I wouldn't say hey Jinx boss you know I probably wouldn't say that to them but if you you know have a very easy going and you both say the same thing at the same time it's good luck to say jinx beat you jinx okay so now let's move on to some words and expressions for when you disagree with a coworker or a colleague this first set of phrases

will be slightly or mildly disagreeing and like we promised we're going to do this professionally and politely so phrase number one I see your point but I see your point however I see your point but I see your point but so I slightly disagree maybe I agree with a little bit but uh I'm not 100% convinced here's a quick dialogue we we have a lot of younger customers so we need social media ads uh I I see a point but it's the parents who are paying not the kids so I think TV would be better

all right so for another phrase where you are mildly disagreeing I'm not so sure about that I'm not so sure about that now it's funny because you are sure about your opinion but you're not so sure about the other person's opinion you're not so sure about the other person's sentence I'm not so sure about that not so sure about that I'm not so sure about that here's a quick dialogue sales are just going down and down I think we should change our strategy I'm not so sure about that we always have a sales dip this

time of year all right here's another phrase for mildly disagreeing that's one way to look at it but this is a good way to tell the other person yeah that's good good work good idea but this is what I think that's one way to look at it but that's one way to look at it but that's one way to look at it but so in British and American culture if we disagree we like to be as soft as possible when we disagree so these long phrases are part of making my opinion softer if we disagree

we don't want any conflict or friction so we can make our opinion softer that's one way to look at it like I understand your logic and your logic is is correct but so we're using these phrases to just be a little bit politer uh more polite oh here's a quick conversation look people don't know the value of things we should charge much more I mean that's one way to look at it but customers can tell when they've wasted their money here's another phrase I had something a little different in mind how about this instead I

had something a little different in mind this is a good way to say I don't really like it that's not exactly what we talked about I had something a little different in mind how about this instead so this is offering a suggestion offering a change how about this instead I had something a little different in mind how about this instead I had something a little different in mind how about this instead maybe I thought of some ideas before the meeting or before this discussion I had my idea and your idea is very different from mine

here's a quick dialogue we should go for advertisements on bus stops and billboards oh sure um well IET something a little different in mind how about using local influencers online instead so you can hear from the discussion um Mark wants bus stops and billboards I want to work online that's quite different but nice soft language I had something a little different in mind I had something a little different in mind even if it was the opposite one is physical one is digital that's the opposite but the way that we talk about it is much softer

I had something a little different in mind how about this instead how about this different thing instead now because these next phrases are strongly disagreeing in order to stay polite we will start each phrase with a little softener a phrase that keeps this really strong phrase polite and respectful so so our first one I hear what you're saying but I respectfully disagree now the phrase that is quite strong I respectfully disagree I disagree is very strong on its own I disagree it's almost too direct I respectfully disagree better but we're starting it with a little

softener I hear what you're saying I'm listening to you I hear what you're saying but I respectfully disagree I hear what you're saying but I respectfully disagree I hear what you're saying but I respectfully disagree here's a little dialogue with that phrase we need to downsize the team we can't afford to keep going like this oh uh okay well I hear what you're saying but I respectfully disagree we should keep them on all right the next phrase oo sorry that's not how I see it sorry that's not how I see it sorry that's not how

I see it sorry that's not how I see it the softener phrase is sorry uh maybe this is more common in the UK but if we're about to disagree with you British people might start with sorry that's the soft to make our disagreement a little softer and more polite sorry that's not how I see it so here's a good dialogue you know this Main Road desperately needs a nice upscale restaurant uh sorry but that's not how I see it the main road is for young people who want to party okay our next one I have

to disagree I have to disagree this one is getting stronger and stronger I have to disagree I have to disagree I have to disagree you could soften this one again with a sorry sorry I have to disagree here's a little dialogue I think the managers will replace us with AI in a few years anyway I have to to disagree AI can't talk to customers like we do it's totally overhyped all right so this one is good because it feels solid uh you're giving your in you're giving your disagreement you're giving your opinion I don't think

that's the right solution I don't think that's the right approach I don't think that's the right answer what I really like about this phrase specifically is we do not use the word you you is very direct you are the problem you are the issue I disagree with you if we take the U out of it I don't think that is the right solution I don't think that's the right answer this is a wonderful phrase it's nice and formal but it is not it's not going to be impolite because we are not using you yes one

of the keys of polite office talk is don't attack the person uh attack the idea or don't disagree with you disagree with the idea or the problem that's much less personal and more respectful so I don't think that's the right solution I don't think that's the right approach I don't think that's the right answer so here's a quick back and forth okay let's combine the teams together then they can finish the job faster uh sorry but I don't think that's the right approach it'll only make things slower okay this is a good one sorry I

don't think I can get on board with that on board if you get on board with something that means you agree you are part of the project now part of the opinion sorry I don't think I can get on board with that this is also a good phrase if something is against your beliefs against what you're thinking I just I can't get on board with that I can't agree with you maybe it's because of how I feel maybe it's because I disagree maybe it's because of my beliefs I can't get on board with that sorry

I don't think I can get on board with that sorry I don't think I can get on board with that again sorry is the little softener all right so here's a quick dialogue hey the client wants the new project to be finished by Monday what do you think uh sorry I don't think I can get on board with that it would be impossible to finish everything in 4 days the last one is more for British people or if you work in a British office I'm not keen on that idea at all I'm not keen on

that idea at all the British part of it is the word Keen I'm keen on means I like it so I'm not keen on it I don't like it you'll fear you'll hear this phrase more often in the UK I'm keen on this I'm not keen on that it's a common way to say that you dislike something politely and respectfully so a quick back and forth uh well management wants to try out using AI chat Bots to replace our customer service teams wow okay I am not keen on that idea at all oh now I

know for sure that Mark is very against that oh I don't like that at all I don't like that at all Keen yeah not keen all right so we've got two more phrases that sometimes you will just never agree with someone that's okay that's okay it's not going to be the end of the world but I quite like this phrase let's agree to disagree you have your opinion I have my opinion it's okay that we have differences but let's stop talking about it let's agree to disagree let's agree to disagree okay okay let's agree to

to disagree this is a way to finish a discussion if both your opinions are complete opposites you're not going to change your mind they're not going to change their mind okay let's agree to disagree look we've been talking about this for hours let's just let it go okay yes let's agree to disagree now the conversation is over no more no more please please I can't anymore yes okay this is a really good one this is a very fixed phrase um to see I to ey means to agree but we almost always use this more commonly

in the negative so when we don't see eye to ey so I just don't think we see eye to ey on this I just don't think we see eye to ey that means we don't have the same opinions we don't agree and it's okay if we don't see eye to eye sometimes but can it can also be a reason why you don't want to talk to someone why you don't really want to have a conversation or you don't want to work with someone we just don't really see I to eye I just don't think we

see eye to eye on this I just don't think we see eye to eye of this here's a quick dialogue I think it's clear that the mistake came from your team look I just don't think we see eye to eye on this and that's okay but I think we should just move on okay there you go those are some amazing useful phrases you can use at work to agree and disagree with your co-workers all while being respectful and professional but still honest hopefully you can use some of these in your next meetings or discussions in

your office in English at work that's right again don't forget that you can get a downloadable PDF transcript of this episode by becoming a highlevel listener member here on YouTube all the info for that is available in the description below you can click join and join us here on YouTube thank you so much again for joining us here in class today we will see you again very soon for our next video bye everybody bye-bye