008 Protocol

陈豪在ABC美国公司工作了几个月。今天他要第一次去参加财务委员会的定期会议。在走廊上,他见到公司的美籍华人Mary。

(Office ambience)

M:Good morning, 陈豪。嘿,你一手拿著咖啡,一手拿著面包上哪儿去呀?

C:我去参加财务委员会的定期会议。这是我第一次参加。早上没时间吃早饭,所以把早饭带去。

M:等等。这个会议是由负责财务的副总裁召开的,Do you know the protocol of the meeting?

C:Protocol? 你是说P-R-O-T-O-C-O-L, 那外交部礼宾司那个词里边有这个字。

M:没错,但是我这里说的是公司内部大家都遵循的一些做法。Protocol refers to the unspoken rules you follow to show courtesy and respect to other people。

C:嗯...unspoken rules you follow!这跟我的咖啡有什么关系呀?

M:你要知道有的老板每次开会都备有咖啡和点心。It won't be polite to bring your own。

C:That's true。不过今天的会议是Mr. Smith召开的,你知道有没有咖啡点心呀?

M:不知道。要是你不知道,会议通知也没提, you'd better leave your breakfast behind。

C:看来只好饿肚子了。好,我走了。

******

M:陈豪,会开完啦?I'm going out lunch, want to join me?

C:不行,我开会时吃了好多点心,水果,午饭吃不下了。Besides, Mary, something made me very embarrassed today。

M:什么事呀?

C:我在吃得高兴的时候,他们要我让座位。

M:Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot to warn you。这种比较高层的会议,定期参加会议的人一般都有固定的座位。你第一次去,进了会议室最好先问一下。Ask where to sit before you take a chair。

C:可是我不知道嘛!一进会场看见有吃的我就很高兴。拿了咖啡,点心就近找个位置上就坐下了。谁知道那是Mr. Smith的助手Laura的位置。

M:Laura asked you to change the seat?

C:No, no! Laura当时还没到。可是,后来会计室新来的Sarah一进会议室就往那位置上坐。

M:She has to change her seat too, right?

C:Of course。她很难堪。

M:没关系,你和Sarah下回就知道了。So remember: Protocol refers to the unspoken rules you follow to show courtesy and respect to other people. Any time you don't know the protocol for a meeting, it's best to ask, just to make sure if it's OK to bring you own coffee and which seat is appropriate for you.