The client asks, “Will the new system be ready on Monday?” Everyone turns toward María. She wants to sound capable, but she hasn’t confirmed the schedule.
A quick “yes” might feel reassuring. It could also create a promise she can’t keep. María takes a breath and says:
“I don’t want to guess. Let me check and get back to you this afternoon.” «No quiero darte una respuesta sin estar segura. Déjame confirmarlo y te respondo esta tarde».
She has been honest, and the client knows what will happen next. That is a professional response.
Other ways to say it
- “Let me confirm that before I give you an answer.” «Déjame confirmarlo antes de darte una respuesta».
- “I want to make sure I give you accurate information.” «Quiero asegurarme de darte información precisa».
- “I’ll check with the team and follow up with you.” «Lo consultaré con el equipo y me pondré en contacto contigo».
If the client needs to make a decision, ask what matters most: “Is Monday the deadline you’re working toward?” «¿El lunes es la fecha límite que tienes en mente?» That helps you understand the urgency without promising a date you haven’t verified.
Give a clear follow-up time
“I’ll get back to you” is helpful. A specific time is better:
- “I’ll email you by 3 p.m. today.” «Te enviaré un correo hoy antes de las tres de la tarde».
- “I’ll have an update for you tomorrow morning.” «Tendré una actualización para ti mañana por la mañana».
- “If I don’t have a final answer by Friday, I’ll let you know where things stand.” «Si para el viernes todavía no tengo una respuesta definitiva, te diré cómo va el asunto».
You can also acknowledge the client’s need: “I understand why you need to know before you make your plans.” «Entiendo por qué necesitas saberlo antes de hacer tus planes».
Doing well at work does not mean having every answer immediately. It means taking the client’s question seriously, checking the facts, and following through when you said you would.
Try this phrase: “I don’t want to guess. Let me check and get back to you by ___.” «No quiero darte una respuesta sin estar segura. Déjame confirmarlo y te respondo antes de ___».
Always know what to say at work and other situations with native English speakers. Download your Professional English Toolkit, designed especially for Spanish-speaking professionals who already understand English but want to sound clearer, more natural, and more confident.
