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Business
商业报道
Corporate etiquette
公司礼仪
Manners maketh the businessman
仓廪不实而知礼节
The economic crisis prompts an outbreak of politeness in business
经济危机的爆发使得公司职员知礼守节
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，伦敦奥利弗·威曼管理咨询公司的安德鲁·查德威克·琼斯，前往一家私募公司展业时，
he expected the usual: about 20 minutes and a brisk attitude.
他像往常那样预期：约20分钟的长度，不友善的态度。
He was surprised to find the private-equity people instead explaining their strategy, offering introductions to senior staff and being more open and friendly.
但他惊讶地发现，私募公司的人转而向他讲解起该公司的战略，为他介绍起公司的高层，人也变得更加开放友好了。
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.
目前资金和交易量都不足，他们必须更好对待每个他们所接触到的人，以期将来可以照顾自己的生意，他说。
Rudeness is out, and civility is the new rule in an uncertain world.
粗鲁已经过时了，礼貌是这个瞬息万变的世界里的新规则。
The former kings of abrasive behaviour—Masters of the Universe bankers, hedge-fund traders, private-equity chiefs—have been humbled.
以前粗鲁行为的代表们—国际银行家中的翘楚，对冲基金的交易员，私募基金经理—已经学得温良恭检让了。
On Wall Street, says a banker, it's now all about charm and openness and taking time with people.
华尔街的一位银行家说，现在所有人都要施展魅力，乐观开朗，使出浑身解数和人们交流。
Cocky young things straight out of the best business schools have stopped skipping interview appointments, recruiters say,
招聘人员说，刚从名牌商学院毕业的那些自大的年轻人已经不敢对面试挑三拣四了，
and there is much less looking over people's shoulders at drinks parties, reports one veteran.
而且，酒会上监视别人的行为也少了很多了，一位职场老手说。
Many people, fearful for their jobs, are trying to burnish their contacts at other firms.
许多人因为担心自己的工作，正力图改善和其他公司的关系。
The change in tone also reflects an upheaval in the balance of power between companies.
这种状况的变化，也反映了公司与公司之间权力平衡的剧烈变化。
Before the crisis, says Michel Pretie, head of investment banking at Societe Generale in Paris,
位于巴黎的法国兴业银行的投资银行负责人米歇尔?佩雷蒂说，危机发生之前，他带着并购的提案拜会其他公司的高级执行官时，
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.
只有很短的会见时间，出来走到门口，经过一排人还全是自己的竞争对手。
Now, he says, You're ushered in, you get an hour with the CEO and he walks you to your car.
现在，他又说道，有人给你引路了，一个小时的和首席执行官的会见时间，他还会亲自送你到你的车前。
As the representative of a bank with money to lend, Mr Peretie is now the chief executive's potential saviour.
因为银行代表的手里有贷款，他现在就成了首席执行官们的潜在救星。
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,
在这场危机中，由于根本不能确定谁最后会手握权柄，最好的策略就是对每个人都彬彬有礼，
says Adam Galinsky of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
西北大学凯洛格商学院的亚当?加林斯基说。
People have more time to be friendly when business is slow.
商业节奏的放缓使人们有更多的时间和睦相处了。
Some reckon the new cordiality reflects a feeling that everyone is in the same boat:
有人认为这种新的热诚反映出一种人人同舟共济的感觉：
when some firms have to fire good performers as well as bad, no one is safe.
当部分企业不得不不分良莠地裁员时，没人是安全的。
But if people at different firms are being nicer to each other, things may not be getting any nicer inside companies.
但是，如果说不同公司的人们之间彼此更为友好了的话，在公司内部，事情可能就没有任何改观了。
At many, stress and in-fighting are on the rise because of the threat of job cuts.
裁员的威胁增加了大量的压力和明争暗斗。
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，这些额外的友善将消失殆尽。
