事前にご意見を聞かせていただけますか？ — Could I get your thoughts on this beforehand? (Cultural · Communication, Polite to Colleague, JLPT N2)

Gesture & etiquette

Approach privately and quietly — not in a group meeting. A slight bow and a calm, unhurried tone signals that this is a courtesy consultation, not a confrontation.

This is the language of 「根回し」(nemawashi) — the Japanese practice of quietly building consensus before a formal decision. Skipping this step can cause a proposal to fail publicly, which is considered a serious loss of face for all parties.