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Business
商業報道
Corporate etiquette
公司禮儀
Manners maketh the businessman
倉廩不實而知禮節
The economic crisis prompts an outbreak of politeness in business
經濟危機的爆發使得公司職員知禮守節
WHEN Andrew Chadwick-Jones, a management consultant with Oliver Wyman in London, went to pitch to a private-equity firm late last year,
去年年底，倫敦奧利弗·威曼管理咨詢公司的安德魯·查德威克·瓊斯，前往一家私募公司展業時，
he expected the usual: about 20 minutes and a brisk attitude.
他像往常那樣預期：約20分鐘的長度，不友善的態度。
He was surprised to find the private-equity people instead explaining their strategy, offering introductions to senior staff and being more open and friendly.
但他驚訝地發現，私募公司的人轉而向他講解起該公司的戰略，為他介紹起公司的高層，人也變得更加開放友好了。
Now that money and deals are scarce, they've got to be nicer to all the people they interact with, they might help bring business in future, he says.
目前資金和交易量都不足，他們必須更好對待每個他們所接觸到的人，以期將來可以照顧自己的生意，他說。
Rudeness is out, and civility is the new rule in an uncertain world.
粗魯已經過時了，禮貌是這個瞬息萬變的世界里的新規則。
The former kings of abrasive behaviour—Masters of the Universe bankers, hedge-fund traders, private-equity chiefs—have been humbled.
以前粗魯行為的代表們—國際銀行家中的翹楚，對沖基金的交易員，私募基金經理—已經學得溫良恭檢讓了。
On Wall Street, says a banker, it's now all about charm and openness and taking time with people.
華爾街的一位銀行家說，現在所有人都要施展魅力，樂觀開朗，使出渾身解數和人們交流。
Cocky young things straight out of the best business schools have stopped skipping interview appointments, recruiters say,
招聘人員說，剛從名牌商學院畢業的那些自大的年輕人已經不敢對面試挑三揀四了，
and there is much less looking over people's shoulders at drinks parties, reports one veteran.
而且，酒會上監視別人的行為也少了很多了，一位職場老手說。
Many people, fearful for their jobs, are trying to burnish their contacts at other firms.
許多人因為擔心自己的工作，正力圖改善和其他公司的關系。
The change in tone also reflects an upheaval in the balance of power between companies.
這種狀況的變化，也反映了公司與公司之間權力平衡的劇烈變化。
Before the crisis, says Michel Pretie, head of investment banking at Societe Generale in Paris,
位于巴黎的法國興業銀行的投資銀行負責人米歇爾?佩雷蒂說，危機發生之前，他帶著并購的提案拜會其他公司的高級執行官時，
he would go and see a senior chief executive with a mergers-and-acquisitions idea, get in for a short while and, on the way out, walk past a line of all his competitors.
只有很短的會見時間，出來走到門口，經過一排人還全是自己的競爭對手。
Now, he says, You're ushered in, you get an hour with the CEO and he walks you to your car.
現在，他又說道，有人給你引路了，一個小時的和首席執行官的會見時間，他還會親自送你到你的車前。
As the representative of a bank with money to lend, Mr Peretie is now the chief executive's potential saviour.
因為銀行代表的手里有貸款，他現在就成了首席執行官們的潛在救星。
During this crisis, when there is so much uncertainty about who will end up having power, the best strategy is to be civil to everyone,
在這場危機中，由于根本不能確定誰最后會手握權柄，最好的策略就是對每個人都彬彬有禮，
says Adam Galinsky of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
西北大學凱洛格商學院的亞當?加林斯基說。
People have more time to be friendly when business is slow.
商業節奏的放緩使人們有更多的時間和睦相處了。
Some reckon the new cordiality reflects a feeling that everyone is in the same boat:
有人認為這種新的熱誠反映出一種人人同舟共濟的感覺：
when some firms have to fire good performers as well as bad, no one is safe.
當部分企業不得不不分良莠地裁員時，沒人是安全的。
But if people at different firms are being nicer to each other, things may not be getting any nicer inside companies.
但是，如果說不同公司的人們之間彼此更為友好了的話，在公司內部，事情可能就沒有任何改觀了。
At many, stress and in-fighting are on the rise because of the threat of job cuts.
裁員的威脅增加了大量的壓力和明爭暗斗。
And as soon as things turn up again, all agree, the extra niceness will vanish.
大家都同意，一旦事情有所起色，這些額外的友善將消失殆盡。
