Doing things in a practical, organised way, without wasting time and without a lot of feeling mixed in. A businesslike person gets straight to the point, is clear about what needs to happen, and does not chat much. It can describe a person, but just as often it describes a manner, a tone, a meeting, or a letter: 'a businesslike tone', 'a short businesslike email'. Note that it does not really mean 'good at business' — you can be businesslike while cooking dinner or clearing a classroom. The word is about STYLE, not about work in an office. The feeling behind it is usually positive, or at least neutral: it is a compliment when you want someone competent and quick. But it has a cool edge. If a friend comforts you in a businesslike way, something is missing — you wanted warmth and got efficiency. So in English people often use it to say, quietly, that someone was efficient AND a little distant. Which one is meant depends on what the situation called for.