高级商务英语考试：口语辅导讲议(5)

会计考友

　　Part V Supplementary Materials
* l" @6 x9 T0 H$ y4 C　　Giving Criticism
　　When it's necessary to criticise the work of colleagues it is important to do so in a manner that is supportive and that permits the other person find ways of improving his or her performance. To do this we need to:
9 [# o# R. ^: J7 N6 ^5 @* Y　　Concentrate on the error, not on the person
　　· Avoid generalizations
　　· Provide specific examples of the problems that need attention
　　· Make helpful suggestions for improvement
6 y3 f0 J3 n  p. o) h2 e　　· Avoid a one-sided attack
. ?6 y9 D$ |4 E3 C6 d( C" L　　· Avoid insinuations and hints
0 q" u3 H& P1 V8 B' R7 v$ j/ J; }5 b　　· Conduct the criticism in private so as not to humiliate the other person
" q# _! h9 M9 N. I: F  \& A　　Read the dialogue below and make a note of the ways in which John fails to observe the advice given above in his criticisms of Mary's work:
) ^7 M" U6 R. [3 Z　　John: Come in and take a seat, Mary. This won't take a minute.
, r4 F8 j% ~2 A/ b　　Mary: What's this all about, John?www.examｗ.com
　　John: Well I'm sorry Mary, but I've come to the conclusion that your work's just not up to scratch. I need to see a big improvement if you want to stay here.
8 b# w5 X5 N8 c9 d3 o- c. H9 L) K3 Y, M　　Mary: I see. I admit I have found these first few weeks a hard, but I need time to settle in and there's a lot to learn.
! z3 |7 e$ p: p* O5 A　　(Knock at the door)
9 I, h' {: R6 t* P5 O0 E' z) i　　John: Come in.
　　Jane: Oh, sorry John, I'll come back later, I didn't realize you were talking.
　　John: That's all right, come in. I was just telling Mary that I don't think she's really up to the job here.
' F+ @0 ?! L, i% p8 J! b/ i　　Jane: No, I don't want to intrude on a private conversation; I'll come back later.
3 o1 s$ z$ u$ q5 K) @% R　　Mary: So what are you saying John, are you firing me?
4 T+ S( _1 `; E  }8 J+ W' ^　　John: No; but I have to say that if this little talk doesn't make you realize where you're going wrong, it may come to that.
0 j$ U  [6 T* K　　Poor Mary! John has just attacked the standard of her without giving her any idea of where she is going wrong; on top of that he's repeated the criticism in front of another member of staff.
" L" g+ z' d) U　　By using some of the suggestions below, see if you can rewrite the dialogue so that John offers Mary constructive and positive criticism that will help her to improve her performance:
　　· Invite Mary to a private interview
　　· Ask if she is ready to discuss the standard of her work
　　· Acknowledge the fact that she is new to the company and that there is a lot to learn
3 l# o2 r3 T% h* U2 u; V  [( I- P　　· Say that her reports are lacking in detail and accuracy
　　· Ask her if she is aware of that
, e( n' |# H8 {3 O. w- B! k　　· Say that she is often late in the morning
% ^  s( `0 d& O1 b9 c, B5 D　　· Ask her if there are personal problems that make it difficult for her to arrive on time
　　· Say that some of the clients she deals with have complained that she misses appointments
　　· Ask her if she can explain why this is
　　· Ask her if there is anything you can do to help her improve in these areas.
. A' f0 `( Z/ [6 x/ D　　· Set a date for another talk in a few weeks to review her progress.
　　· If John conducts the interview along these lines, Mary will:
4 l$ B5 T# |: j) f; p' B　　· Know exactly which aspects of her work are unsatisfactory
- A5 q2 r. C! S; ^　　· Will have the opportunity to explain why she has problems
　　· Will not be publicly humiliated
4 B: Y# w) {4 C$ g3 f$ `3 Y　　· Will feel that she is getting support in her efforts to improve.
　　Reference
; s' N% v6 h4 G3 y9 X5 H　　☆ Brenda Townsend Hall,1998