Sooner or later someone asks you "How does this work?" A new colleague needs the expense process, a client wants to know what happens after they order, or your manager asks why a job takes three days. You know the answer; the challenge is putting it in an order someone else can follow.
Process English runs on two kinds of words. Sequence words (first, then, once you've, after that) keep the steps in line. Reason words (so that, the reason is, which means) explain why each step exists, and that's what makes people remember it. People accept a strange rule much more readily when they hear why it's there. If words aren't enough, stop talking and show it: "Let me show you" is often the fastest explanation there is.
Phrases
introducing a process
putting steps in order
after one step is finished
introducing the next step
explaining why
introducing a purpose
introducing a result
introducing the plain summary
warning about the hard step
explaining a rule or a condition
moving from words to a demonstration
one stage at a time
inviting the listener to slow you down
Say it out loud
Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.
Practice · 3 min
Say the line that fits. Situation on the left, one natural line on the right.
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Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.