Team updates and approval blockers | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: During a short team update meeting, colleagues review progress, identify an approval blocker, and assign follow-up steps..

EN → DE / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Team updates and approval blockers to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Lassen Sie uns dieses Update-Meeting kurz halten und die Tagesordnung durchgehen.

LAHS-sen zee oons DEE-zes UP-date MEET-ing koorts HAHL-ten oont dee TAH-gess-ORD-noong DOORKH-gay-en. Let's keep this update meeting short and work through the agenda.
B

Ich kann mit dem Fortschritt bei der Designaufgabe beginnen.

ikh kahn mit daym FORT-shrit bye DAIR duh-ZYNE-owf-GAH-buh beh-GIN-en. I can start with progress on the design task.
A

Nenne danach bitte alle Hindernisse, die den Zeitplan beeinflussen könnten.

NEN-uh dah-NAKH BIT-uh AH-luh HIN-duh-nis-suh dee dayn TSYTE-plahn beh-EYN-floos-en KURN-ten. After that, please mention any blockers that could affect the timeline.
B

Das größte Hindernis ist, dass wir auf die Genehmigung der Rechtsabteilung warten.

dahss GRURSS-tuh HIN-duh-niss ist dahss veer owf dee guh-NAY-mi-goong dayr REKHTS-owp-tye-loong VAHR-ten. The main blocker is waiting for approval from the legal team.
A

Wer sollte sich nach diesem Gespräch bei ihnen melden?

vair SHAWL-tuh zikh nahkh DEE-zem guh-SHPRAYKH bye EE-nen MEL-den? Who should follow up with them after this call?
B

Ich kann das machen, aber ich brauche zuerst die aktuelle Version des Dokuments.

ikh kahn dahss MAKH-en, AH-ber ikh BROW-khuh tsoo-AIRST dee ahk-TOO-eh-luh vair-ZYOHN dess doh-koo-MENTS. I can do it, but I need the latest document version first.
A

Ich werde jemanden bitten, es heute zu schicken.

ikh VAIR-duh YAY-mahn-den BIT-en, ess HOY-tuh tsoo SHIK-en. I'll ask someone to send it today.
B

Dann sollten wir trotzdem bis zum geplanten Termin fertig werden können.

dahn SHAWL-ten veer TROTS-daym biss tsoom guh-PLAHN-ten tair-MEEN FAIR-tikh VAIR-den KURN-en. Then we should still be able to finish by the planned deadline.
A

Nach dem Meeting werde ich eine schriftliche Zusammenfassung der Entscheidungen schicken.

nahkh daym MEET-ing VAIR-duh ikh EYE-nuh SHRIFT-li-khuh tsoo-ZAHM-en-fahs-oong dayr ent-SHYE-doong-en SHIK-en. After the meeting, I'll send a written summary of the decisions.
B

Das wird allen helfen, den Überblick über die nächsten Schritte zu behalten.

dahss veert AH-len HEL-fen, dayn OO-ber-bleek OO-ber dee NEKH-sten SHRIT-tuh tsoo beh-HAHL-ten. That will help everyone stay clear on the next steps.

Word by Word

Lassen In Lassen Sie uns dieses Update-Meeting kurz halten, this means “let” and helps form a suggestion to do something together. It is used with Sie uns and an infinitive, as in Lassen Sie uns ... durchgehen. In a formal work setting, this is a practical way to propose the next activity.
Sie Here Sie addresses one or more people formally in the suggestion Lassen Sie uns dieses Update-Meeting kurz halten. Together with Lassen Sie uns, it means “let’s” in a polite form. This construction is useful when suggesting an action during a meeting.
uns In Lassen Sie uns dieses Update-Meeting kurz halten, uns refers to the speaker and the people being addressed: “us.” It identifies the group that should carry out the action. A reusable pattern is Lassen Sie uns + infinitive for a joint suggestion.
dieses In dieses Update-Meeting, dieses means “this” and points to the meeting currently being discussed. It appears directly before the meeting expression. You can reuse dieses before a specific current item when referring to it in the situation.
Update-Meeting Update-Meeting means “update meeting,” the short meeting in which the colleagues review progress and next steps. The whole expression combines Update for a progress-related update with Meeting for the gathering itself. It is useful for naming a work meeting focused on current information.
kurz In dieses Update-Meeting kurz halten, kurz means “short” and describes the intended length of the meeting. It works with halten to express keeping something short. A useful pattern is ein Gespräch kurz halten when limiting the duration of a conversation.
halten In Lassen Sie uns dieses Update-Meeting kurz halten, halten means “keep” something in a particular condition, here short. The object is dieses Update-Meeting and kurz describes its intended state. This pattern is useful when asking people to keep a meeting or discussion brief.
und Und connects the two suggested actions in Lassen Sie uns dieses Update-Meeting kurz halten und die Tagesordnung durchgehen. It means “and” and places the actions in the same suggestion. You can use und to join coordinated actions or points in a meeting.
die In die Tagesordnung, die is the definite article meaning “the” for the agenda being reviewed. It introduces the noun phrase that is the object of durchgehen. Use it here when referring to a specific agenda.
Tagesordnung Tagesordnung means “agenda,” the ordered list of topics for the meeting. In die Tagesordnung durchgehen, it is the item the colleagues review together. This word is useful when discussing or reviewing the planned topics of a meeting.
durchgehen In die Tagesordnung durchgehen, durchgehen means “go through” or “review” the agenda step by step. The full expression identifies the agenda as the object being reviewed. It is a useful meeting pattern for reviewing a list, plan, or set of points.
Ich Ich means “I” and identifies the speaker in Ich kann mit dem Fortschritt bei der Designaufgabe beginnen. It is the subject of the statement. It is used before a verb when the speaker describes their own ability or action.
kann In Ich kann ... beginnen, kann means “can” or “am able to,” expressing the speaker’s ability or readiness to start. It is followed by the infinitive beginnen at the end of the clause. This pattern is useful when volunteering to take the first step in a task.
mit In mit dem Fortschritt bei der Designaufgabe beginnen, mit means “with” and marks the point from which the speaker will start. It is followed here by dem Fortschritt. A reusable pattern is mit ... beginnen when starting with a particular topic or activity.
dem In dem Fortschritt, dem is the article belonging to the noun Fortschritt in the phrase introduced by mit. Together, mit dem Fortschritt means “with the progress.” It is useful to learn dem as part of the fixed phrase used after mit here.
Fortschritt Fortschritt means “progress,” here referring to how the design task is developing. It is the topic the speaker will begin reporting on. In work discussions, Fortschritt is commonly used with a task, project, or plan.
bei In bei der Designaufgabe, bei means “with regard to” or “in connection with” the design task. It links Fortschritt to the task being discussed. The pattern Fortschritt bei ... is useful when reporting progress on a specific task.
der In der Designaufgabe, der is the article in the phrase following bei. Together with bei, it introduces the specific design task connected with the progress. Learn bei der Designaufgabe as part of the phrase used here.
Designaufgabe Designaufgabe means “design task,” the task whose progress is being reported. It is the specific work item connected to Fortschritt. This compound is useful when identifying a particular task in a design project.
beginnen In Ich kann mit dem Fortschritt bei der Designaufgabe beginnen, beginnen means “begin” or “start.” It names the speaker’s first action in the meeting update. It can be reused with mit to say what topic or activity someone starts with.
Nenne In Nenne danach bitte alle Hindernisse, Nenne means “mention” or “name” and gives a direct request to one person. The object is alle Hindernisse, the blockers that should be reported. This form is useful when asking someone to list relevant issues.
danach Danach means “after that” and tells the listener when to mention the blockers: after the preceding progress update. It links this instruction to the previous meeting step. It is useful for ordering follow-up actions in a discussion.
bitte Bitte softens the request Nenne danach bitte alle Hindernisse and means “please.” It marks the instruction as polite without changing the requested action. In a work conversation, it can be placed inside a request like this one.
alle In alle Hindernisse, alle means “all” and asks the listener to mention every relevant blocker. It directly modifies Hindernisse. This pattern is useful when requesting a complete list of issues or items.
Hindernisse Hindernisse means “blockers” or “obstacles,” specifically issues that could affect the timeline in this meeting. It is the object of Nenne. In a work update, the word is useful for identifying problems that prevent or delay progress.
den In den Zeitplan, den is the article before Zeitplan in the phrase describing what the blockers could affect. It means “the” for the specific schedule under discussion. Learn it here as part of beeinflussen den Zeitplan.
Zeitplan Zeitplan means “timeline” or “schedule,” the planned timing that the blockers might affect. It is the object of beeinflussen. This word is useful when discussing whether a task or problem changes planned work dates.
beeinflussen In die den Zeitplan beeinflussen könnten, beeinflussen means “affect” or “influence” the schedule. It describes the possible impact of the Hindernisse. A reusable pattern is etwas beeinflusst den Zeitplan when something may change planned timing.
könnten In die den Zeitplan beeinflussen könnten, könnten means “could” and presents the effect on the schedule as possible rather than certain. It appears with the infinitive beeinflussen at the end of the relative clause. This is useful for discussing possible consequences of a problem.
Das At the start of Das größte Hindernis ist ..., Das refers to the main blocker being identified. In this sentence it works as “the” or “that,” pointing to the situation that follows. It is useful for introducing a specific conclusion or identification.
größte In Das größte Hindernis, größte means “greatest” or, in this meeting context, “main” or “biggest.” It identifies one obstacle as more significant than the others. It is useful when ranking one issue as the most important problem.
Hindernis Hindernis means “blocker” or “obstacle,” here the principal issue affecting the work. It is identified as the situation of waiting for approval. The word is useful for naming something that prevents progress.
ist In Das größte Hindernis ist ..., ist means “is” and connects the identified blocker with its explanation. The explanation follows in the dass clause. This pattern is useful when stating what a problem consists of.
dass Dass introduces the clause explaining what the main blocker is: dass wir auf die Genehmigung der Rechtsabteilung warten. It means “that” and connects the statement with its content. In this construction, the clause ending is warten.
wir Wir means “we” and refers to the group waiting for approval in wir auf die Genehmigung der Rechtsabteilung warten. It is the subject of the dass clause. It is used when the speaker includes themselves and others in the action.
auf In auf die Genehmigung ... warten, auf is the preposition used with warten for the thing being awaited. Here it introduces die Genehmigung der Rechtsabteilung. The reusable pattern is auf etwas warten, meaning “wait for something.”
Genehmigung Genehmigung means “approval,” the permission needed from the legal department. It is the thing the colleagues are waiting for after auf. This word is useful when work depends on formal approval.
Rechtsabteilung Rechtsabteilung means “legal department,” the team expected to provide the approval. In die Genehmigung der Rechtsabteilung, it identifies whose approval is needed. It is useful for referring to the legal function within an organization.
warten In wir auf die Genehmigung der Rechtsabteilung warten, warten means “wait.” It describes the current blocker: the colleagues have not yet received the approval. It is commonly used in the pattern auf etwas warten.
Wer Wer means “who” and asks which person should take responsibility for the follow-up. In Wer sollte sich nach diesem Gespräch bei ihnen melden?, it is the subject of the question. This is useful when assigning or clarifying responsibility.
sollte In Wer sollte sich ... melden?, sollte means “should” and asks who ought to carry out the follow-up. It is followed by the reflexive expression sich melden. This pattern is useful when discussing responsibility for a next step.
sich In sich bei ihnen melden, sich belongs to the expression meaning “get in touch with them” or “contact them.” It refers back to the person who will make the contact. The reusable pattern is sich bei jemandem melden.
nach In nach diesem Gespräch, nach means “after” and places the follow-up after this conversation. It is followed here by diesem Gespräch. The same preposition is also used at the start of Nach dem Meeting for a later action.
diesem In nach diesem Gespräch, diesem means “this” and points to the conversation that is currently ending. It directly identifies the relevant conversation. It is useful when referring to a specific current event or discussion.
Gespräch Gespräch means “conversation” and refers here to the call or meeting conversation just mentioned. It is the event after which someone should make contact. This word is useful for naming a spoken discussion in a work context.
ihnen In sich bei ihnen melden, ihnen means “them” and refers to the legal team. It is the group that should be contacted after the conversation. The reusable pattern bei ihnen means “with them” or “to them” in this contact expression.
melden In sich bei ihnen melden, melden means “get in touch” or “report,” but with sich bei jemandem it means contacting someone. The complete expression gives the practical meaning here. It is useful for promising or assigning a follow-up contact.
machen In Ich kann das machen, machen means “do” and refers back to the follow-up task just discussed. The phrase das machen means “do it,” with das standing for the task. This is useful when accepting responsibility for an already identified action.
aber Aber connects the acceptance Ich kann das machen with the limitation that follows: the speaker needs the document version first. It means “but” and introduces a contrast. It is useful for adding a condition or obstacle to an agreement.
brauche In ich brauche zuerst die aktuelle Version des Dokuments, brauche means “need.” It states that the document version is necessary before the speaker can follow up. A reusable pattern is ich brauche + object for stating a practical requirement.
zuerst Zuerst means “first” and says that obtaining the document version must happen before the follow-up. It establishes the order of the two actions. This word is useful when explaining which task has priority.
aktuelle In die aktuelle Version, aktuelle means “current” or “latest” and identifies the version needed for the follow-up. It modifies Version in the document phrase. It is useful when distinguishing the needed version from an older one.
Version Version means “version,” here the particular version of the document needed before contacting the legal team. It is the object of brauche. This word is useful when a work file has been revised or exists in several versions.
des In des Dokuments, des means “of the” and links the version to the document it belongs to. Together, die aktuelle Version des Dokuments means “the latest version of the document.” This pattern is useful for identifying ownership or association between two nouns.
Dokuments Dokuments means “document” in the phrase die aktuelle Version des Dokuments. It specifies which file version the speaker needs. This word is useful when referring to a written work file in a professional setting.
werde In Ich werde jemanden bitten, werde helps express a future action: the speaker will ask someone. It is followed by the infinitive bitten at the end of the clause. This pattern is useful for stating a planned action.
jemanden In Ich werde jemanden bitten, jemanden means “someone” as the person who will be asked. It is the person receiving the request. The reusable pattern is jemanden bitten, etwas zu tun, meaning to ask someone to do something.
bitten In jemanden bitten, es heute zu schicken, bitten means “ask” or “request.” It introduces the person who will be asked and the action they should perform. The pattern jemanden bitten, etwas zu tun is useful for delegating a task politely.
es In es heute zu schicken, es means “it” and refers back to the latest document version. It is the thing that someone will send. This pronoun is useful when the referenced object is already clear from the conversation.
heute Heute means “today” and specifies when the document should be sent. It adds a concrete timing requirement to es heute zu schicken. This word is useful for assigning a same-day action.
zu In zu schicken, zu marks the infinitive in the construction jemanden bitten, es heute zu schicken. It connects the request with the action the other person should perform. The reusable pattern is jemanden bitten, etwas zu tun.
schicken In es heute zu schicken, schicken means “send.” It is the action requested from someone and refers to sending the document version. This verb is useful for assigning the delivery of a file or message.
Dann Dann means “then” and draws a conclusion from the document being sent today. It introduces the expected next result: the team can still finish on time. This word is useful for linking one completed action to its consequence.
sollten In Dann sollten wir trotzdem ... fertig werden können, sollten means “should” and expresses an expectation about the team’s ability to finish. It combines with können and the infinitive phrase at the end. This is useful for giving a cautiously positive work forecast.
trotzdem Trotzdem means “still” or “nevertheless” and shows that finishing remains possible despite the approval delay. It marks a result that holds in spite of the blocker. This word is useful when acknowledging a problem while stating that the plan can continue.
bis In bis zum geplanten Termin, bis means “by” and sets the latest time by which the team should finish. It introduces the deadline expression. This is useful when stating a completion target.
zum Zum is the contracted form of zu dem in zum geplanten Termin. In this sentence, it forms the time expression meaning “by the planned deadline.” It is useful to learn it as part of the phrase bis zum Termin.
geplanten In dem geplanten Termin, geplanten means “planned” and describes the agreed target date or deadline. It identifies which Termin is meant. This word is useful when referring to a scheduled date in a work plan.
Termin Termin means “appointment,” “date,” or, here, “deadline.” In bis zum geplanten Termin, it names the planned point by which the work should be finished. It is useful for discussing scheduled work dates or target deadlines.
fertig In fertig werden, fertig means “finished” or “done.” It describes the desired completed state of the team’s work. The expression fertig werden is useful for saying that a task or project gets completed.
werden In fertig werden können, werden means “become” or “get,” describing reaching the finished state. Together with können, it forms the idea of being able to get finished by the deadline. This pattern is useful when discussing whether work can be completed.
Meeting Meeting means “meeting” and refers to the work meeting after which the written summary will be sent. In Nach dem Meeting, it identifies the event that has just taken place. This loanword is useful in everyday professional German for a work meeting.
eine In eine schriftliche Zusammenfassung, eine means “a” and introduces one written summary. It identifies Zusammenfassung as a single item being sent. This pattern is useful when announcing or describing one document or deliverable.
schriftliche In eine schriftliche Zusammenfassung, schriftliche means “written” and describes the form of the summary. It distinguishes the summary as something recorded in writing. This is useful when specifying that information will be provided in a document or message.
Zusammenfassung Zusammenfassung means “summary,” here a written account of the decisions made in the meeting. It is the document the speaker plans to send. This word is useful for documenting the main results of a discussion.
Entscheidungen Entscheidungen means “decisions” and refers to the conclusions reached during the meeting. It is the content summarized in die schriftliche Zusammenfassung der Entscheidungen. This word is useful when recording agreed choices or outcomes.
wird In Das wird allen helfen, wird expresses a future result: the summary will help everyone. It is used with helfen, which remains at the end of the phrase. This pattern is useful for describing the expected benefit of a planned action.
allen In allen helfen, allen means “everyone” or “all people” as the group receiving help from the summary. It identifies who benefits from the action. This pattern is useful when saying that something helps all members of a group.
helfen In Das wird allen helfen, helfen means “help.” It describes the benefit that the written summary will provide to everyone. A reusable pattern is etwas hilft jemandem, with the person helped expressed by jemandem.
Überblick In den Überblick über die nächsten Schritte behalten, Überblick means “overview” or “clear understanding.” It refers to a clear view of what needs to happen next. This word is useful in the expression den Überblick behalten when managing several tasks or pieces of information.
über In den Überblick über die nächsten Schritte, über means “about” and identifies the subject of the overview: the next steps. It follows Überblick in this expression. The pattern Überblick über etwas is useful when naming what someone has a clear view of.
nächsten In die nächsten Schritte, nächsten means “next” and describes the steps that follow the meeting. It identifies the upcoming actions rather than completed ones. This word is useful when planning or reviewing follow-up work.
Schritte Schritte means “steps” and refers to the planned follow-up actions after the meeting. It is the subject matter of the Überblick. This word is useful when dividing a plan or project into concrete actions.
behalten In den Überblick über die nächsten Schritte zu behalten, behalten means “keep” or “retain.” With den Überblick, it means keeping a clear understanding of the next steps. This expression is useful when saying that information remains organized and clear.

Grammar Points

Lassen Sie uns + Infinitiv

Lassen Sie uns die Tagesordnung kurz durchgehen.

LAHS-sen zee oons dee TAH-gess-ORD-noong koorts DOORKH-gay-en.

Let's briefly go through the agenda.

This is the polite German equivalent of “let's”; the verb stays in the infinitive at the end.

warten auf + Akkusativ

Wir warten auf die Genehmigung.

veer VAHR-ten owf dee guh-NAY-mi-goong.

We are waiting for the approval.

The preposition “auf” takes the accusative case when it means “wait for”.

German Vocabulary

beeinflussen verb
beh-EYN-floos-en affect; influence
beginnen verb
beh-GIN-en begin; start
das Hindernis noun
dahss HIN-duh-niss obstacle; blocker
der Fortschritt noun
DAIR FORT-shrit progress
der Zeitplan noun
DAIR TSYTE-plahn timeline; schedule
die Designaufgabe noun
dee duh-ZYNE-owf-GAH-buh design task
die Genehmigung noun
dee guh-NAY-mi-goong approval
die Rechtsabteilung noun
dee REKHTS-owp-tye-loong legal department
die Tagesordnung noun
dee TAH-gess-ORD-noong agenda
durchgehen verb
DOORKH-gay-en go through; review

die Tagesordnung durchgehen

kurz halten phrase
koorts HAHL-ten keep short

dieses Update-Meeting kurz halten

Lassen Sie uns phrase
LAHS-sen zee oons let's

Lassen Sie uns dieses Update-Meeting kurz halten.

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

begin; start

Show Answerbeginnen

go through; review

Show Answerdurchgehen

affect; influence

Show Answerbeeinflussen