经济学人188:公司礼仪 仓廪不实而知礼节

 　　Business

　　商业报道

　　Corporate¹ etiquette²

　　公司礼仪

　　Manners maketh the businessman

　　仓廪不实而知礼节

　　The economic crisis prompts an outbreak of politeness in business

　　经济危机的爆发使得公司职员知礼守节

　　WHEN Andrew Chadwick-Jones, a management consultant³ with Oliver Wyman in London, went to pitch to a private-equity firm late last year,

　　去年年底，伦敦奥利弗·威曼管理咨询公司的安德鲁·查德威克·琼斯，前往一家私募公司展业时，

　　he expected the usual: about 20 minutes and a brisk attitude.

　　他像往常那样预期：约20分钟的长度，不友善的态度。

　　He was surprised to find the private-equity people instead explaining their strategy, offering introductions to senior staff and being more open and friendly.

　　但他惊讶地发现，私募公司的人转而向他讲解起该公司的战略，为他介绍起公司的高层，人也变得更加开放友好了。

　　Now that money and deals are scarce, they've got to be nicer to all the people they interact with, they might help bring business in future, he says.

　　目前资金和交易量都不足，他们必须更好对待每个他们所接触到的人，以期将来可以照顾自己的生意，他说。

　　Rudeness is out, and civility is the new rule in an uncertain world.

　　粗鲁已经过时了，礼貌是这个瞬息万变的世界里的新规则。

　　The former kings of abrasive⁴ behaviour—Masters of the Universe bankers, hedge-fund traders, private-equity chiefs—have been humbled⁵.

　　以前粗鲁行为的代表们—国际银行家中的翘楚，对冲基金的交易员，私募基金经理—已经学得温良恭检让了。

　　On Wall Street, says a banker, it's now all about charm and openness and taking time with people.

　　华尔街的一位银行家说，现在所有人都要施展魅力，乐观开朗，使出浑身解数和人们交流。

　　Cocky young things straight out of the best business schools have stopped skipping interview appointments, recruiters say,

　　招聘人员说，刚从名牌商学院毕业的那些自大的年轻人已经不敢对面试挑三拣四了，

　　and there is much less looking over people's shoulders at drinks parties, reports one veteran.

　　而且，酒会上监视别人的行为也少了很多了，一位职场老手说。

　　Many people, fearful for their jobs, are trying to burnish⁶ their contacts at other firms.

　　许多人因为担心自己的工作，正力图改善和其他公司的关系。

　　The change in tone also reflects an upheaval⁷ in the balance of power between companies.

　　这种状况的变化，也反映了公司与公司之间权力平衡的剧烈变化。

　　Before the crisis, says Michel Pretie, head of investment banking⁸ at Societe Generale in Paris,

　　位于巴黎的法国兴业银行的投资银行负责人米歇尔?佩雷蒂说，危机发生之前，他带着并购的提案拜会其他公司的高级执行官时，

　　he would go and see a senior chief executive with a mergers-and-acquisitions idea, get in for a short while and, on the way out, walk past a line of all his competitors.

　　只有很短的会见时间，出来走到门口，经过一排人还全是自己的竞争对手。

　　Now, he says, You're ushered⁹ in, you get an hour with the CEO and he walks you to your car.

　　现在，他又说道，有人给你引路了，一个小时的和首席执行官的会见时间，他还会亲自送你到你的车前。

　　As the representative of a bank with money to lend, Mr Peretie is now the chief executive's potential saviour¹⁰.

　　因为银行代表的手里有贷款，他现在就成了首席执行官们的潜在救星。

　　During this crisis, when there is so much uncertainty¹¹ about who will end up having power, the best strategy is to be civil to everyone,

　　在这场危机中，由于根本不能确定谁最后会手握权柄，最好的策略就是对每个人都彬彬有礼，

　　says Adam Galinsky of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

　　西北大学凯洛格商学院的亚当?加林斯基说。

　　People have more time to be friendly when business is slow.

　　商业节奏的放缓使人们有更多的时间和睦相处了。

　　Some reckon the new cordiality reflects a feeling that everyone is in the same boat:

　　有人认为这种新的热诚反映出一种人人同舟共济的感觉：

　　when some firms have to fire good performers as well as bad, no one is safe.

　　当部分企业不得不不分良莠地裁员时，没人是安全的。

　　But if people at different firms are being nicer to each other, things may not be getting any nicer inside companies.

　　但是，如果说不同公司的人们之间彼此更为友好了的话，在公司内部，事情可能就没有任何改观了。

　　At many, stress and in-fighting are on the rise because of the threat of job cuts.

　　裁员的威胁增加了大量的压力和明争暗斗。

　　And as soon as things turn up again, all agree, the extra niceness will vanish.

　　大家都同意，一旦事情有所起色，这些额外的友善将消失殆尽。

　　1.etiquette n.礼仪；礼节

　　The rules of etiquette are not so strict nowadays.

　　如今的礼仪规则已不那么严格了。

　　2.prompt v.激起；促进；推动

　　The occasion calls for prompt action.

　　这场合需要迅速的行动。

　　3.brisk a.敏锐的；活泼的；活跃的

　　His movements were brisk and boyish.

　　他的动作仍很敏捷，孩子气。

　　4.strategy n.策略；战略

　　The strategy was designed to wear down the enemy's resistance.

　　这一策略旨在逐步削弱敌人的抵抗力。

　　5.scarce a.缺乏的；不足的；稀少的

　　Food and fuel were scarce in this region.

　　这地区食物和燃料都很缺乏。

1 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

2 etiquette   

n.礼仪，礼节；规矩

参考例句：

• The rules of etiquette are not so strict nowadays.如今的礼仪规则已不那么严格了。
• According to etiquette,you should stand up to meet a guest.按照礼节你应该站起来接待客人。

3 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

4 abrasive   

adj.使表面磨损的；粗糙的；恼人的

参考例句：

• His abrasive manner has won him an unenviable notoriety.他生硬粗暴的态度让他声名狼藉。
• She had abrasions to her wrists where the abrasive rope had scraped her.她的手腕有多出磨伤，那是被粗糙的绳子擦伤的。

5 humbled   

adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低

参考例句：

• The examination results humbled him. 考试成绩挫了他的傲气。
• I am sure millions of viewers were humbled by this story. 我相信数百万观众看了这个故事后都会感到自己的渺小。

6 burnish   

v.磨光；使光滑

参考例句：

• Many people,fearful for their jobs,are trying to burnish their contacts at other firms.许多人因为担心自己的工作，正在努力抹去和其他公司接触的痕迹。
• I burnish joyful sparks from my sorrows.我从伤痛里擦亮喜悦的火花。

7 upheaval   

n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱

参考例句：

• It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
• The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。

8 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

9 ushered   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
• A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 saviour   

n.拯救者，救星

参考例句：

• I saw myself as the saviour of my country.我幻想自己为国家的救星。
• The people clearly saw her as their saviour.人们显然把她看成了救星。

11 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。