If you’re a developer who works solo or outside the classic 9-5 agency bubble, walking into a meeting full of “stakeholders” can feel like being dropped into another planet. Everyone’s saying things like “let’s align on deliverables” or “we’ll circle back on that,” and you’re just trying to figure out what they actually want from you.
Here’s your no-nonsense translation guide to help you survive (and even thrive) in meetings without selling your soul to jargon.
The Soft Demands
"Can we just...?"
Means: Can you do this.
You could say: “Yep, if I get [X] first I can move forward.”
Or: “I can, but it’ll push [Y] back... okay to prioritise this?”
"Would it be possible to..."
Means: Please do this, but I’m too British to say so.
You could say: “Possible, yes... but not quick. Want me to estimate effort?”
The Fake Consensus
"Let’s align on this."
Means: I need you to agree with me.
You could say: “Here’s what I’m working with... happy to hear where we differ.”
"We should consider..."
Means: I want to suggest this but I’m hedging in case it’s daft.
You could say: “That’s worth exploring. I’ll check what that means technically.”
The Delays in Disguise
"Let’s park this for now."
Means: This is awkward or low priority.
You could say: “Okay... flagging that it might block X down the line.”
"We’ll circle back."
Means: I don’t want to talk about this now.
You could say: “Sure... just note we’ll need a decision on this before Y.”
The Confidence Bluffers
"I’m going to go ahead and..."
Means: I feel weird saying this so I’m softening it with bravado.
You could say: “That works... do you need anything from me first?”
"I think we’re broadly on the same page."
Means: I hope you agree with me enough not to argue.
You could say: “Mostly, yes... but let me raise one thing I’d do differently.”
Power Moves for the Quiet Builder
If you’re not a natural speaker, you don’t need to fake confidence... you just need a few grounded phrases that give you space to work in your own way:
- If you don’t know yet: “Let me dig into that and I’ll come back with something clearer.”
- If you’re swamped: “I’ve got capacity by [date]... happy to take it on then.”
- If they’re spiralling: “Can we simplify that down to the next step?”
- If it’s too vague: “What’s the goal here... just so I’m solving the right thing?”
Final Thought
You don’t need to become a fluent office-speak performer. You just need to be clear, calm, and helpful... and sometimes throw in a well-timed “absolutely” with a nod if things get weird 🙃