Ann. 陳豪去年大學(xué)畢業(yè)以后,就到北京的美國ABC公司工作。今天他去出席了一個(gè)午餐會以后回到公司,還沒有走進(jìn)自己的辦公室,就被同事Mary叫住了。
(Office ambience)
M:Hey, Chao Hao, I need to talk to you。
C:What's wrong?
M:Did you offer John in the Technology Department a ride to the lunch today?
C:(恍然大悟) 哎喲,我忘得一干二凈了。
M:He waited a long time for you today!
C:啊呀,害他等我半天。Oh dear, what should I do?
M:Find him immediately and apologize!
C:你說什么?Apologize?
M:Apologize, A-P-O-L-O-G-I-Z-E, 就是道歉!
C:我可不能對他說我忘了,總得找個(gè)理由吧!
M:不要找出種種理由來解釋。 It's always best to be truthful and sincere when you apologize。
C:也是。要道歉嘛還是老老實(shí)實(shí),找借口讓人聽起來不誠懇。好,我這就去找John。
******
C:行了,沒事了。
M:你跟他道歉了?
C:不,John已經(jīng)走了,我給他寫個(gè)email就行了。
M:寫email 不太好。Email is too impersonal when you need to ask forgiveness。你要道歉最好還是當(dāng)面說好,更正式一些。
C:那,我給John的手機(jī)打個(gè)電話,好嗎?這樣不是又快,又能直接講話嘛!
M:That's a good idea。
(Making cell phone call)
C:Mary, John沒接電話,所以我給他留了言,說今天忘了帶他去午餐會,我感到很抱歉。這下總算結(jié)束了這件事。I'm glad that's over。
M: Over? No way! 留個(gè)言就算完啦?不行, 你得做得更慎重一些。
C:哎,我去找他,他不在。我打手機(jī),他不接。我留了言,道了歉。這還不行呀?
M:你最好今天在他桌上留個(gè)條。親自寫個(gè)條表示道歉會讓他感到你很有誠意。要更地道的話,你還可以給他留個(gè)小禮物。A small gift as a sign of your sincerity。
C:我哪知道他喜歡什么呀?
M:他喜歡看籃球。
C:OK, I have an idea! 我去買兩張籃球比賽的票。我跟他一起去.....當(dāng)然,要是他不再生我氣的話。
M:Great! So remember: when you make mistakes, the best thing is to apologize immediately. When a verbal apology is not enough, write a note and give a small gift.
C: 知道了,知道了。我這就去買票。謝謝Mary.
M:You're welcome!