In the world of professional relationships, mastering the delicate balance between friendly small talk and serious business discussions is key to building meaningful connections. Small talk is the glue of our social interactions, helping us to break the ice and build relationships that are crucial both in and out of the workplace.  However, there comes a pivotal moment when the casual chatter must give way to more substantive matters. 

​Here are some handy phrases to smoothly make that transition:

Glossary:
nitty-gritty = the most important and basic details or facts of something
talk shop =​ to discuss work or business matters, especially when you're not at work

Remember: you can always extend the phrase if you want to be on a safe side. For example:
I think we've covered everything for now, but I'll let you know if anything pops up.
I'm good to go, but I'll give you a shout if I need some help.

When we talk to people, sometimes we need to ask extra questions to understand them better. Two common questions we might ask are "What do you mean?" and "How do you mean?". While they sound similar, they're used in different situations to get clarity.

"What do you mean?" is the question you ask when you're confused or didn't understand what someone said. It's like saying, "I didn't catch that, can you explain it again?" For example, if your friend says, "I think this is a bad idea," and you're not sure what part of the idea they're talking about, you'd ask, "What do you mean?" to get more details.

"How do you mean?" is a bit more specific. Use it when you understand the words but not the deeper meaning or reason behind them. It's another way of asking, "Can you give me more details about how you're thinking about this?" So, if someone says, "That movie was interesting," and you want to know exactly what made it interesting to them, you'd ask, "How do you mean?".

In short, use "What do you mean?" when you need someone to repeat or clarify something because you're lost. Use "How do you mean?" when you're curious about the specifics or want to dive deeper into someone's thoughts.