公司董事會成員David找Ken談話，顯得很神秘。

David: Hey, Ken...I need to talk to you.

K: Sure...what's up?

D: Can we step into the conference room? This is a more private conversation.

K: Sure...

D: Ok...I'm just going to lay it all out on the table: What do you think of Vincent's management style?

K: Well, Vincent has only been CEO for a couple of years and ... well...um...

D: I don't want to put you on the spot. Here's what I'm getting at: I don't think Vincent is the man for the job.

原來，David找Ken談話，是因為覺得公司首席執行官 Vincent is not the man for the job. 不稱職。David 說，I don't want to put you on the spot. 意思是我不是故意為難你。to put someone on the spot 意思是讓某人回答很難回答的問題。David 在上面那段話里還說 I'm just going to lay it all out on the table. 我就直截了當說吧。to lay something out 是講清楚；on the table 意思是放在桌面上討論。Ken 問 David 為什么覺得 Vincent 不稱職。

K: Really? And what led you to this conclusion?

D: As I see it, he lacks the proper vision. His style is more about survival, and he's not taking the company anywhere.
He's treading water instead of swimming.

K: Well, I confess I've had my doubts about his abilities before. It seems he mainly got the job because his famous aunt pulled some strings.

David覺得Vincent缺乏遠見，lacks the proper vision. 只能維持現狀，不能推動發展，就好像在水里，He's treading water instead of swimming. 光是原地踩水，不向前游。Ken說，Vincent 擔任CEO, 靠的是自己姑姑的關系，His aunt pulled some strings. to pull some strings 意思是動用關系。

D: I've been with this firm for 26 years and I'd hate to see it go down the drain due to poor leadership skills.

K: Me too. But what can we do? This isn't a reality TV show...we can't just vote him out.

D: Yes and no...We can't ask for a show of hands on who thinks he should be fired, but we can introduce a vote of no confidence at the next board meeting.

K: Interesting idea. You might be on to something.

David 說，自己在公司已經26年了，不想看著公司go down the drain就這么垮掉。to go down the drain 是失敗，白費的意思。David 覺得，雖然這不是電視真人秀 reality TV show，不能讓大家表決把他趕下臺，a show of hands 是舉手表決的意思，但是可以在下個董事會上提出一份 a vote of no confidence 不信任提案。