decide the next steps

Meaning

This phrase means to determine what actions or tasks need to be done after the current phase of a project or meeting is finished. It is commonly used in business settings to transition from discussion to planning and execution.

Examples

• We need to meet tomorrow to decide the next steps for the marketing campaign.

  We need to meet tomorrow to decide the next steps for the marketing campaign.

• Once we get the client's feedback, we can decide the next steps.

  Once we get the client's feedback, we can decide the next steps.

• Let's wrap up this discussion and decide the next steps before we leave.

  Let's wrap up this discussion and decide the next steps before we leave.

• The team sat down to decide the next steps after the budget was approved.

  The team sat down to decide the next steps after the budget was approved.

• Before we decide the next steps, let's make sure everyone agrees on the main goal.

  Before we decide the next steps, let's make sure everyone agrees on the main goal.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to decide the next step.

  ✓ We need to decide the next steps.

  While singular 'next step' is possible for one action, in business meetings we usually discuss a series of actions, so the plural 'next steps' is much more common and natural.

• ✗ Let's decide about the next steps.

  ✓ Let's decide the next steps.

  The verb 'decide' directly takes the noun phrase 'the next steps' as an object without the preposition 'about' in this professional context.

Related Expressions

Practice

• After we review the sales report, we will ___.

  💡 Determine the future actions.

  Show answer

  decide the next steps

• We can't ___ until we hear back from the legal department.

  💡 Choose what to do next.

  Show answer

  decide the next steps