Unit 01Keep somebody posted有消息╱進度請通知我
A. 辭彙文化背景介紹:
Post 有張貼的意思,所以當你第一眼看到keep sb. posted這個用法時,可能會直覺想到一直保持張貼狀態到底要有什麼用意。當你這樣想時,其實已經快要找到答案了!
如果用現在大家不可或缺的facebook與Instagram做比喻,相信大家一定可以馬上記住這個片語的意思。現在大家習以為常的po文,其實完整的講法是post an article。那如果對方一Po文你能馬上得知,就意味你可以掌握對方的狀況,講到這邊,其實已經差不多告訴大家這個片語的意思了,這個片語主要就是要表達「有新的消息請讓我知道」。
因此,如果你是員工,下次要請同事讓你能夠隨時掌握某項工作的進度,或是你是主管,要求員工讓你知道某個工作的狀況時,都可以說"Keep me posted" (「有消息請通知我。」)。
B. 看看辭彙怎麼用:
【同事間】Between colleagues
Simpson: Bart, our proposal is rejected. I was a little bit shocked. Does anything go wrong during our briefing?
辛普森:巴特,我們的企劃案被拒絕了。我有點震驚。簡報時我們有出錯嗎?
Bart: I guess not. How about checking the power point slides one after one to see if we can find clues?
巴特:我覺得沒有耶!不然?不然我們一張一張投影片檢查,看看我們能不能找出點線索呢?
Simpson: Good idea, let’s begin with statistics and formula. The figures we use in this report are all from the authorities, so the chance to be wrong is low. The problem may come from the formula itself.
辛普森:好主意,就從統計數字跟公式開始看吧!我們的數據都引自權威機構,所以出錯的機會很低,很可能是公司本身出錯。
Bart: Very logical reasoning. Now I randomly select an equation to verify. Gosh! One parameter in the calculation of disposable asset is wrong, making the outcome somehow unreasonable. I assume that is reason why ABC Company feel hesitant. I think I should ask Anna to double check all the parameter in case we miss any mistake.
巴特:很合邏輯的推斷。現在我隨機選擇一個等式來驗算看看。我的天啊!計算可支配資產中的參數有一個是錯的,讓結果看起來有些不合理。我覺得這就是ABC公司猶豫的原因。我覺得應該要請艾咪再次檢查所有參數,以免再次有所遺漏。
Simpson: It might take Amy few hours to finish this job and I have a meeting with KPL Industry later, so please keep me posted about the verification. Once it has been done, I will ask Mr. Huang, the manager to help us to arrange another presentation for ABC’s CEO. See you later.
辛普森:艾咪檢查可能需要幾小時,而且我等一下要跟KPL工業開會,所以有任何更正請讓我知道,一旦完成檢查,我會請黃經理再幫我們安排跟ABC公司執行長簡報的機會。我就先走了。
Bart: See you later.
巴特:再見
【主管與屬下間】
Between the supervisor and the employee
Derrick: How is the progress in the customer development after the trade show last month?
得瑞克:上個月參加展覽後,目前客戶開發的進度如何呢?
Bill: Now ANB wants us to send the quotation of CNC machine, and Amy updates me to the progress every three days. However, the situation of ETU is not clear. Though they show great interest in our pressing machine in the exhibition, we haven’t received the response to the quotation we have sent one week ago.
比爾:現在ANB要CNC機器的報價,而艾咪每三天會跟我回報進度。但ETU的狀況有點不明,雖然他們在展覽期間對於壓床機展現高度興趣,但上週給予報價後就音訊全無。
Derrick: I am afraid that some of our competitors tend to use low price as the incentive to get this order, so now you get my authorization to negotiate the price. The maximum is 10 percent off, and you make the decision without asking me in this range. Considering the scale of ETC, I think it has the potential to be our agent in that region. Please keep me posted if you have any progress.
得瑞克:我怕是因為我們的競爭者想以低價作誘因搶訂單,所以於此我授權你議價的權力。上限是九折,所以在這個範圍內的價格,你可以全權作主。考量到ETU的規模,它有潛力成為本公司在該地區的代理商。接下來,如有任何進度,請都告訴我。
Bill: I got it. I will firstly write an e-mail to show that we can have some compromise in the price to re-initiate the talk.
比爾:了解。我會先寫電子郵件告知他們我方願意在價格上讓步,以重啟雙方之對談。
Derrick: Good. Once ETU requests the discount above this range, please let me know. I will tell you whether to accept it or not.
得瑞克:很好。萬一ETU要求比這更多的優惠,請告訴我,我會裁示是否接受。
Bill: I see.
比爾:了解。
C. 對話單字、片語說分明:
1. rejected v. 拒絕
例:The proposal is rejected due to its highly estimated budget.
這個提案由於預估費用過高而被否決。
2. statistics n. 統計數字
例:According to the statistics, our sales figure has made a great improvement this year.
根據統計數字,本年度的銷售數字成長卓著。
3. authorities n. 當局、權威機構
例:Without the approval from local authorities, this machine can’t be imported.
若沒有當局的許可,此機器不能進口。
4. randomly adv. 隨機地
例:To get the direct feedback from customers, this survey randomly select testees in the mall.
為了獲得顧客最直接的回饋,本調查在賣場中隨機挑選受測者。
5. exhibition n. 展覽
例:To get more brand awareness, we need to put more resources in advertisements.
為了要更提高品牌知名度,得在廣告上投入更多資源。
6. incentive n. 誘因
例:For the high-end consumers, being unique is the greatest incentive that attracts them to purchase this item.
對高端消費者而言,有特殊性是吸引它們購買產品的最大誘因。
7. compromise v/n.妥協
例:Considering the long-term cooperation, we can compromise in this case.
考量到彼此會長期合作,這次我們可以讓步。
D. 換句話說補一補:
The figures we use in this report are all from the authorities, so the chance to be wrong is low.
我們的數據都引自權威機構,所以出錯的機會很低。
★ The figures we use in this report are all from a reliable source, so the chance to be wrong is low.
★ The figures we use in this report all have been verified, so the chance to be wrong is low.
★ The figures we use in this report are all have the endorsement from the profession, so the chance to be wrong is low.
解析時間
1. from a reliable source
解析:from a reliable source意思是來源可靠,換言之,也是表達權威機構的公正性。在職場上,我們會接觸到各式各樣的圖表與統計數字,如何讓人對其信服,就是資料的出處。
2.all have been verified
解析:all have been verified意思是皆經過驗證。能通過驗證,代表有人對其正確度把關,因此也算的上來自權威機構的替代用語。
3. all have the endorsement from the profession
解析:all have the endorsement from the profession意思是有專家的背書。換個角度看,也是在表示資料的可靠性。在職場上,為了不損及自身利益,大家對於數據的真實性難免持有懷疑,因此若要取信於人,不妨搬出專家背書這項武器,使用 "The data all have the endorsement from the profession." 這類的句型,好讓對方對安心。
Now I randomly select an equation to verify.
現在我隨機選擇一個等式來驗算看看。
★ Now I select an equation by chance to verify.
★ Now I select an equation without specific principle to verify.
★ Now I select an equation with my intuition to verify.
解析時間
1. by chance
解析:by chance意思是按照機率。由於沒有設立規則,所以每個樣本被抽到的機率都均等,也就是隨機抽樣的概念。因此,當我們在職場上要表達某件事情其實沒啥規則可言,就可以用by chance來表示。
2.without specific principles
解析:without specific principles意思是沒有特別的規則。換言之,唯一的規則就是憑機率,因此也能用來表達隨機抽樣的概念。
3. with my intuition
解析:with my intuition意思是憑直覺,在概念上也很接近隨機,因此也可以用來表達隨機抽樣。
I will firstly write an e-mail to show that we can have some compromise in
the price to re-initiate the talk.
我會先寫電子郵件告知他們我方願意在價格上讓步,以重啟雙方之對談。
★ I will firstly write an e-mail to show that we can have some flexibility in the price to re-initiate the talk.
★ I will firstly write an e-mail to show that we can give you some favor in the price to re-initiate the talk.
★ I will firstly write an e-mail to show that we can have some discounts to re-initiate the talk.
解析時間
1. flexibility
解析:flexibility意思是彈性。在價格上讓步,其實也就是不堅持某個數字。因此,未來當你與客戶協議價格出現僵局時,就可以用 "the price of…may have some flexibility" 來表達。
2.give you some favor
解析:give you some favor意思是給予你一些優惠。在價格上給予優惠,其實也就是些許讓步來加速成交。因此,當你發現客戶遲遲不願下單時,就可以在自己權限內給予折扣,例如 "I can give you some favor",來縮短成交時程。
3.have some discounts
解析:have some discounts意思是給予折扣。在價格上讓步就是願意給折扣。比起一些複雜的組合方案,直接打折的吸引力最大,因此當你希望客戶快點下單時,就可以用 "you can have some discount if…" 這樣的句型來使其動心。
E. 非學不可的職場小貼示:
Authorization意思是授權。授權的目的在於取得原本自己所沒有的權限。在職場上,長官會試情況釋放部分權力給下屬,以便執行業務。在本單元對話中,為了加速成交,只要最後成交價格不超過九折,Bart不需要向Simpson報告就可以直接答應,這就是授權的典型情況之一。
因此,往後如果在執行業務上有需要,就可以用 "To make..., may I have your authorization to..." 這類句型向長官請示,請其給與授權。而如果你自己本身就是長官,則可採用 "here I authorize... to..." 讓下屬可以盡快完成工作。