Words (Core Vocabulary)
- etiquette / professionalism / tone
- agenda / notes / action items / follow-up
- 1:1 (one-on-one) / standup / all-hands
- feedback (peer/manager), constructive feedback, kudos
- goals / KPIs / OKRs / metrics
- performance review / self-assessment / calibration
- growth plan / development plan / learning budget
- PIP (performance improvement plan) (when applicable)
- recognition / shout-out
Phrases (Day-to-day → feedback → review)
Everyday etiquette
- Could we keep this to 30 minutes? Agenda attached.
- Thanks for the context—here’s a summary and next steps.
Giving feedback (kind + clear)
- What went well was [specific]; to improve, [specific action].
- I noticed meetings run long; suggest we time-box and park off-topic items.
Receiving feedback
- Thanks for the feedback—I’ll adjust and follow up next week.
- Could you share an example so I understand better?
Performance & goals
- This quarter, my goals are [KPI/OKR] with milestones.
- Here are my outcomes with metrics and evidence linked.
Contextual Examples (Natural, everyday)
- Meeting note: Agenda posted; notes and actions will be in the doc after.
- Peer feedback: “Great job on the launch; one idea is to share risks earlier in standups.”
- Self-review: “Delivered 3 features, reduced incidents by 45%, mentored 2 juniors.”
Collocations & Phrases (bold the key words)
Professional communication
- set an agenda
- circulate notes
- clarify next steps
- close the loop
Feedback
- give constructive feedback
- ask for examples
- agree on an action
- follow up on progress
Performance
- draft OKRs
- track metrics
- write a self-assessment
- request development opportunities
Canadian Cultural Context (How to sound natural & polite)
- Tone is generally polite and collaborative; please/thanks and acknowledgements are common.
- Feedback is best specific, timely, and kind—focus on behaviours and outcomes.
- Performance cycles often include self-reviews and calibration—evidence (data, links) helps.
Extra Mini-Patterns (plug-and-play)
- Feedback frame: “What worked: … Even better if: … Next step: …”
- Self-review line: “Increased conversion by 22% by testing checkout changes.”
- Close-the-loop: “Following up on the action item—completed and doc updated.”