You finish a great meeting. Everyone smiles and says, “Sounds good!” But two days later, nobody has started the work. Why? The next steps were never clear. You can avoid that problem with a few ordinary English questions: What are we doing? Who is responsible? When is it due? And where will we record the plan?
The Big Idea
Agreeing with an idea is not the same as assigning work. Before the meeting ends, name the task, confirm its owner, choose an actual deadline, and send a short summary.
10 Useful English Phrases
| English | Spanish · Español |
|---|---|
| What are the next steps? | ¿Cuáles son los próximos pasos? |
| What needs to happen first? | ¿Qué hay que hacer primero? |
| Who is taking the lead on this? | ¿Quién se encarga de dirigir esto? |
| I can draft the first version. | Puedo preparar el primer borrador. |
| Could you review it once it is ready? | ¿Podrías revisarlo cuando esté listo? |
| What is a realistic deadline? | ¿Qué plazo sería realista? |
| Does Friday work for you? | ¿Te viene bien el viernes? |
| Let us confirm what is included. | Confirmemos qué está incluido. |
| I will send a short recap afterward. | Después enviaré un breve resumen. |
| Please let me know if I missed anything. | Avísame si se me pasó algo. |
Real Conversation — Try It Out
HOST: “This was a useful meeting. What are our next steps?”
SAM: “I can draft the first workshop outline.”
HOST: “Great. What is a realistic deadline?”
SAM: “I can send a draft by Friday afternoon.”
HOST: “Perfect. I will review it on Monday.”
SAM: “Just to confirm: I draft the outline, and you review it?”
HOST: “Exactly. I will email a short recap after the meeting.”
SAM: “Sounds good. Thank you!”
Problem → Need → Request
Problem: We agreed on an idea, but the tasks are not assigned.
Need: I need a clear next step and realistic date.
Request: Could we confirm who is doing each task and when it is due?
Before You Go
- List any proposed tasks.
- Know what you can genuinely commit to.
- Have your calendar available.
- Ask who reviews or approves the work.
- Choose where to record the decision and who can see it.
Your Three-Round Speaking Mission
- Ask “What are the next steps?” at the end of a fictional meeting.
- Offer one realistic task and propose a day.
- Summarize the task, owner and date back to the group.
Surprise Round
Someone says “ASAP.” Ask for a specific date and time that is realistic for both people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does “Sounds good” mean the plan is confirmed?
Not necessarily. Confirm the task, person responsible and deadline explicitly.
Is “Who owns this?” rude?
It can be fine in some workplaces, but “Who is taking the lead?” may be clearer to newer English learners.
What if we do not know the deadline yet?
Say so clearly and agree on when you will decide; do not invent one.
