隨著台灣日益邁向國際化,經手跨國專案的機會越來越多,無論是透過視訊會議或電子郵件,以英文與國外團隊成員了解時程或掌握進度,可說是位於台灣的專案經理的例行必要工作。
專案經理在點出所指的專案後,接下來可能會展開一些如此的對話:
1. 詢問進度:
- “Where you are at”:I was just wondering where you are at in this task.
你處於專案的哪個位置,也就是詢問對方進展地如何。
- “Deadline”、“Timeframe” 是時常拿來明確指出日期的用字:What timeframe are you looking at (to finish this task)? Are you comfortable for me to say we will meet the deadline on (date)?
詢問對方再來所需的時間或者對整體專案時程的看法,專案經理可從中得知是否需要調整工時。
2. 除了瞭解進度,也可同時了解專案進行是否遇到問題、資源遇到瓶頸:
- “Is everything in good shape?” 較為籠統概括,卻也較為柔性的問法。專案經理可用來表示對個人與工作上的關心。
- “Get the ball rolling”:I wondered if there is any obstacle or any help you need from me to get the ball rolling.
讓球繼續滾動,也就是讓專案繼續往前推進;專案經理可藉此了解對方是否遇到任何瓶頸,是否有專案經理可以幫忙疏通之處。
- “On someone’s plate”:Do you currently have a lot on your plate? Is there anything that has been preventing you from focusing on this project?
盤子裡是否裝了很多東西,亦即詢問對方手上是否扛著很多事情;這句話時常用在專案經理在規劃人力資源的階段,也可能用在已經展開的專案,專案經理擔心相同的人力資源被多起專案重複使用,而造成了進度上的干擾,因而表示關切。
- “Drop the ball”:I understood you have a lot on your plate, so perhaps the ball got dropped. If the ball got dropped, we’re not going to make it.
在跨國專案中,email聯繫佔相當大的比例,也因此疏漏的情況在所難免。只不過球掉了絕不是好事,對方若因為忙碌或放假沒接到你拋出的球,則請對方再確認;另一種用法,也可用來提醒成員認真處理這項工作,別因此搞砸了專案。
3. 最後,也許是簡單的鼓勵、激勵團隊精神,或感謝對方 (“Thanks for the hard work.”),也可能是需要請對方抓緊進度,利用用詞向對方略微施壓,或是要求對方針對調整後的日期再次畫押。在這一點上,專案經理必須選擇清楚且立場堅定 (clearly and assertively) 的用詞,來顯示出你對於掌握專案時程的信心與決心。以下是一些例句供作參考:
- (Please do your best/We must help each other…) as we’re all in the same boat.
- Please expedite so we may stay on track with our project plan.
- Would it be reasonable to give you 2 more days on this task?
- Your delay would make things difficult for other team members who depend on you.
- We want to avoid any negative consequence due to such delay.
若各位在國際專案上遇到了不知該如何以英文應答的問題,也歡迎在此提出討論!